Soviet-Swedish Agreements

Diplomatic relations were established between the USSR and Sweden on Mar. 15–18, 1924.

The two countries concluded agreements on trade (Mar. 15, 1924), on trade and payments (Sept. 7, 1940), and on credit facilities (Sept. 7, 1940). A settlement of mutual property claims in relation to the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian SSR’s was concluded on May 30, 1941. Another agreement on trade and credit facilities was concluded Oct. 7, 1946. An agreement on air transportation was signed Oct. 25, 1946, and was superseded by a permanent agreement of Mar. 31, 1956. An agreement on rescue operations in the Baltic Sea was also concluded (Sept. 29, 1954).

A joint communique of Apr. 3, 1956, described the countries’ relations as friendly and neighborly, and both sides expressed a desire to expand their ties. Subsequently, agreements were concluded on the settlement of mutual financial claims in relation to the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian SSR’s (May 11, 1964), on cooperation in agriculture (Jan. 15, 1965), and on trade and payments (Feb. 5, 1965; as protocol to the agreement of Sept. 7, 1940). A consular convention was signed on Nov. 30, 1967.

In addition, the countries concluded agreements on economic and scientific and technical cooperation, including the creation of an intergovernmental commission (Jan. 12, 1970), on cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy (Jan. 12, 1970), on cooperation in radio and television broadcasting (Apr. 5, 1970), on trade on a long-term basis (July 8, 1970), on international motor-vehicle travel (Nov. 25, 1970), and on the settlement of issues related to air transportation routes (memorandum, Feb. 8, 1971).

Further agreements between the countries include those on maritime navigation (Apr. 5, 1973), on mutual exemption from taxes of shipping enterprises and their employees (protocol, Apr. 5, 1973), and on cooperation in the search for the rescue of aircraft crews and passengers in the Baltic Sea (Apr. 5, 1973). An agreement was also concluded on a program for cultural and scientific exchange for 1973–74 (Apr. 5, 1973).

In a joint communique of Apr. 5, 1973, the two countries noted the stability of their neighborly relations and expressed the desire to expand their ties and cooperation. An agreement on scientific cooperation and the exchange of scientists was signed in April 1975.