Södertälje, 40 km south-west from Stockholm, is a city with a big immigrant population. Now one of the local politicians has proposed that streets should get more international names to mirror the international composition of the city's population. This writes Sveriges Radio (SR) on its homepage today.

"Sweden's international capital"

Metin Hawsho from the local People's Party (social liberal) thinks that the streets in Södertälje should mirror the international aura of the city. For example he mentions that a street or a place could be named after Mor Afrem, a famous figure within the Syrian-orthodox Church.

- We in Södertälje claim to be Sweden's international capital and I think it is important that we defend this title and the international atmosphere that surrounds the city, Metin Hawsho says to SR.

Locals are skeptic

When Radio Stockholm visited Södertälje however, they mostly met negative comments on the proposal.

- Just drop it. After all we live in Sweden so one has to adapt, says Jacob Barosso with roots in Turkey to SR.

- I am myself an immigrant, but personally I think Sweden is Sweden. You come here because you don't want to be where you come from, says another man to SR.

Terese Casadiego is half-Italian but seems not too excited about the proposal.

- Even if we know that this city is multi-cultural I think the street names should be kept in Swedish, she says to SR.

Södertälje is one of the most immigrant-dense cities in Sweden. About 40% of the inhabitants have foreign backgrounds, and this proportion currently increases by 1.5% per year. Around 35% of the inhabitants are Assyrian/Syriac people.

The municipal executive board will decide on the issue on March 26.

www.stockholmnews.com