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Prime Minister Ragnar Martinsson Press Conference

LIVE from the Sager House, Stockholm

Prime Minister Ragnar Martinsson walks into the press briefing room in the Sager House for his weekly press conference. He takes the podium and addresses the journalists.

| PM Martinsson | : "First of all, can I just apologize for delaying this press conference and for not hosting one in the last week. I also want to express my deepest condolences to all the lives lost in the cowardly terrorist attack in Switzerland (Praizalia). So, I shall now take your questions now."

| Reporter from SVT24 | : "Greetings, Prime Minister. You were unwell and down with flu for the past week, can you give us an update on your health?"

| PM Martinsson | : "It was flu and I am fine now. I had a good period of convalescence and I am fine now. It was nothing serious. I was not hospitalized but I needed rest or the disease could have turned into pneumonia according to the doctors. In my absence, Deputy Prime Minister Annie Lööf took over my duties and I would like to thank her."

| Reporter from TV 2 Nyhetskanalen | : "Just last week, the Egyptian Government (Imperium egypt) officially issued a warning for Egyptians travelling to the Islamic State of Afghanistan stating that, 'suicide Bombings and terror attacks are frequent'. We also have a travel advisory warning in place for Skandinavians travelling to Afghanistan but do you agree to the stance and statement given by the Egyptian Government?"

| PM Martinsson | : "Our Government cares for its people and it is obvious we will issue travel advisory warnings to any nation that is torn apart by external armed conflict, internal rebellions or terrorism. It is a matter of our national security as well. But if I remember right, the Egyptian Government also said quote 'we ask others in the region to take note of Afghanistan and its Global Threat and ask the Afghani forces to clamp down on terrorism and stop remaining a terrorist Hub, the country portrays a wrong image of Islam due to its extremist atmosphere' which is absolutely wrong. Afghanistan isn't a threat, terrorism and terrorist organizations in that region is a threat and Afghanistan is not portraying a wrong image of Islam. They didn't ask for terrorism in their country, those people over there want what we have: good education, sanitation, healthcare and most importantly peace. And Afghanistan can't fight this war on their own, it is a collective responsibility for all of us to help them either with numbers or with morale. I will be meeting the Afghani President this week in Stockholm and I hope to have productive talks with him over this issue."

| Reporter from EuroNews | : "What did you make of Turkish President Meral Akşener's address in the EU parliament? (The Turkish-State)"

| PM Martinsson | : "She is the face of a new Turkey as we see the nation today. I was a very good speech and I really admire her. What she said was right and I agree. There is a some amount of Islamophobia in our country and I am aware of that but with that, we also have people from the Muslim community who are making the nation proud and doing some incredible work, excelling in different fields. I have a Muslim Cabinet minister, Sofia Abdullah who is the most important minister for my green politics as she is the Minister for Environment. And I have spoken to her and I know that the Kuran doesn't tell Muslims to rape or slaughter innocent people. These Muslim gangs who are committing crimes in our country, who say they are Muslims are not Muslims, they are monsters. If so many Muslims in our nation can live and prosper peacefully, why can't these gangs? I am gonna enforce education on this issue in our country. Hatred towards Muslims isn't the answer ever. We need to help them and make them feel accepted and as for the gangs who carry our monstrous acts in our country, well, I will deport them or throw them in prison if they are citizens. We need to love each other but I will not tolerate indiscipline and this doesn't go just for a particular group of people, it goes for all Skandinavians and people staying in this country."

| Reporter from SVT World | : "Rhineish republic Chancellor Reichart wasn't happy with the Huawei-EU deal. Your Government has also stayed silent on the issue. Can we have a comment?"

| PM Martinsson | : "To be honest, even I am not very happy with the deal as well. But we will see how it rolls out and how things go ahead. Huawei will be under a lot of scrutiny in Skandinavia."

| Reporter from Al Jazeera English | : "Any comment on Turkey's possible membership in the European Union?"

| PM Martinsson | : "Turkey (The Turkish-State) is a very important partner for Europe, not just in economic matters but also in diplomacy. We share some common problems and having them in the EU will be very beneficial. I am all for it. I also want to congratulate Boznia-hersegovina who became a part of the EU recently. I look forward to working with their leadership. Talking of EU, I also believe Rusikya and EU should be more co-operative and we need to strengthen ties, I am not saying bring them in the European Union, I am saying that they should be an important partner and not isolated. Thank you and have a good day. I need to leave for the Riksdag now."