Swedish FM intends to build relations with Muslim countries amidst Quran burning

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström has held talks with ambassadors of the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) against the background of Quran burnings in the kingdom.

The diplomat explained Stockholm's position on such demonstrations, TASS reports.

"Rebuilding trust is not a quick process. I will spend much of my mandate building relations with Muslim countries. I intend to travel to these countries and in September we will invite them to talks and dialogue during the [high-level session of the General Assembly] week of the UN in New York," Billström said after meeting with the OIC ambassadors.

He added that the Swedish authorities condemn the actions against the Quran and are ready to consider changing the kingdom's legislation that allows the organisation of such demonstrations. Billström emphasised that the meeting with the ambassadors was positive.

On June 28, a Quran-burning event took place in Sweden, setting off a chain of protests and condemnation from Islamic states. It was carried out by a 37-year-old Iraqi immigrant named Salwan Momika with the permission of the local police. Carrying out such an action during one of the major religious holidays in Islam, Gurban Bayram has drawn sharp condemnation. Moreover, in Iraq and Iran, it provoked protests near Swedish embassies, and in Baghdad, by the end of July, the demonstrations turned into an attempt to storm the kingdom's diplomatic building. In spite of this, the Quran was burned in the kingdom twice more - first on July 31 and then on August 4.