Sweden taps human rights, disarmament ambassadors

STOCKHOLM – Sweden's foreign minister says the Scandinavian country is giving "greater focus" to human rights and disarmament by naming two veteran diplomats as ambassadors in charge of those issues.

Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said the appointments Friday of Annika Ben David and Eva Walder as human rights and disarmament ambassadors, respectively, were meant to raise "the profile of Swedish human rights and democracy as well as Sweden's work on international disarmament."

Ben David, 49, is Sweden's ambassador in Congo, and will represent the Scandinavian country abroad and in international organizations. Walder, who has served as an ambassador in Finland and Singapore, will pen Swedish disarmament policy.