STOCKHOLM, November 20. /TASS/. The closure of the Russian trade mission in Sweden would not contribute to the development of mutually beneficial economic relations between these countries and in the world, the new Russian ambassador to Sweden, Sergey Belyaev, told TASS.

He commented on the call of the member of the Swedish Parliament Markus Selin to Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa to "take any initiatives" to close the Russian trade mission. According to the diplomat, such a move would likely impact Sweden more than Russia.

"The institute of trade missions in foreign countries is one of many mechanisms in our country to support and stimulate foreign economic relations. We are convinced that the closure of the Russian trade mission in Sweden would not foster the development of mutually beneficial bilateral and global economic relations now or in the future. Indeed, Stockholm positions itself as a leading advocate of free trade, calling for the removal of international barriers and duties," he noted, emphasizing that the implementation of this measure "will hardly affect the Russian side than the Swedish side."

Earlier, Markus Selin, a member of the Swedish parliament from the Social Democratic Party in his request to Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, called for the closure of the Russian trade mission and to raise the issue of Russian trade missions in the EU. In his view, this measure should be taken since EU sanctions against Russia include restrictions on the import and export of goods and services in a number of sectors of the economy, while the goal of these trade missions is to promote more Russian goods and services in the Swedish market. "According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Sweden is obliged to protect the premises of trade missions and uphold their inviolability," Dousa stated in his response to the parliamentarian.