The Ambassador of Sweden to Yugoslavia (known formally as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Yugoslavia) was the official representative of the government of Sweden to the president of Yugoslavia and government of Yugoslavia. The post ceased in 1992 in connection with the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
History In a report on the reorganization of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in early January 1921, it was proposed that the head of mission in Constantinople also be accredited in Belgrade, Sofia, Athens, Tiflis, Baku, and eventually in Armenia. However, the experts recommended that the minister, for the time being, be accredited only in Sofia. In October of the same year, Einar af Wirsén was appointed as Sweden's first envoy to Yugoslavia, with residency in Bucharest, Romania, to serve as envoy starting 1 January 1922.
On 29 April 1938, changes in Swedish foreign representation were announced. Envoy Torsten Undén, who had previously served as Swedish envoy in Vienna with accreditation in Belgrade, was to relocate his residence and chancery to Budapest.
In 1939, was appointed as Sweden's first resident envoy in Belgrade. On 15 June, he was received in an audience by Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, to whom he presented his credentials.
On 27 March 1941, the same day as the Yugoslav coup d'état, Envoy Malmar was assaulted by demonstrators in Belgrade after being pulled from his car at a street barricade. The Yugoslav government later expressed deep regret over the incident. His injuries were evidently more serious than he initially realized. He was recalled later in 1941 and, upon returning home, required extended hospitalization and was subsequently retired. For the remainder of the war, Sweden did not have a minister stationed in Belgrade.
In September 1956, an agreement was reached between the Swedish and Yugoslavian governments on the mutual elevation of the respective countries' legations to embassies. The diplomatic rank was thereafter changed to ambassador instead of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.
In June 1969, Sweden and Albania established diplomatic relations. That same month, Sweden's ambassador in Belgrade, Lennart Finnmark, was appointed ambassador to Tirana, Albania, as well.
The ambassador served in Belgrade until the spring of 1992, when Yugoslavia dissolved.
List of representatives NamePeriodTitleNotesRefKingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941)Einar af Wirsén1 January 1922 – 1924EnvoyResident in Bucharest.Jonas Alströmer1925–1928Acting envoyResident in Bucharest.Torsten Undén1928–1938EnvoyResident in Vienna.Torsten Undén1938–1939EnvoyResident in Budapest.Knut Richard Thyberg1938–1939Chargé d'affaires ad interimFolke Malmar2 June 1939 – 31 July 1941Envoy–1941–1945EnvoyNo representation after the invasion of Yugoslavia.Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1963)Gunnar Reuterskiöld1945–1948EnvoyBirger Johansson1948–1953EnvoyOle Jödahl1953–1956EnvoyStig Unger1954–1956Chargé d'affaires ad interimStig Unger1 April 1956 – September 1956EnvoyStig UngerSeptember 1956 – 1961AmbassadorSven Backlund1961–1963AmbassadorSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1963–1992)Agda Rössel1964–1969AmbassadorLennart Finnmark1969–1975AmbassadorAlso accredited to Tirana.Axel Lewenhaupt1975–1978AmbassadorAlso accredited to Tirana.Bertil Arvidson1978–1982AmbassadorAlso accredited to Tirana.Lennart Myrsten1982–1987AmbassadorAlso accredited to Tirana.Jan af Sillén1987–1992AmbassadorAlso accredited to Tirana.
See also Sweden–Yugoslavia relations List of ambassadors of Sweden to Serbia
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