The signing on 5 September of an Agreement on Development Cooperation between Sweden and Cambodia has been considered proof by some of a “favor for favor” deal between Sweden and Cambodia for the arrest of Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm last Thursday in Cambodia. But Sweden has been supporting Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979.
According to the Swedish embassy’s homepage the amount of SEK 200 million per year is a just a prolongation of the aid given the last three years. Furthermore the prolonging was decided by the Swedish Government on 8 March 2012.
The Agreement, which was signed in Phnom Penh by Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Anne Höglund, Ambassador of Sweden, covers the period 2012-2013. The Swedish support for the two-year –period will amount to SEK 400 million (appr. 40 million euros or 57 million US dollars). The support is provided as a grant.
The Agreement purpose is to strengthen opportunities for sustainable and democratic development and to increase the respect for human rights in Cambodia. The areas of Swedish support are: 1) education, 2) democratic development and respect for human rights, and 3) climate.
In 2009 Sweden granted SEK 190 million in aid to Cambodia.
In 2010 Sweden granted SEK 177 million in aid to Cambodia.
In 2011 Sweden granted SEK 200 million in aid to Cambodia.
