Norway has decided to align itself with the EU’s sanctions against Syria. The sanctions include an assets freeze, travel restrictions, and an embargo on exports of arms to Syria.(Photo: Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre)
“Norway supports international efforts to bring an end to the unacceptable use of violence against the Syrian people,” commented Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
In a press release, the Norwegian Department of Foreign Affairs says the sanctions are a response to the Syrian authorities’ use of military force against peaceful demonstrations. The lack of access for independent observers, not least journalists, makes establishing the exact figures difficult, but it is feared that between 600 and 700 people have lost their lives and at least 8000 have been arrested since the demonstrations began in Syria in the middle of March.
“President Assad and the Syrian authorities must end the use of violence immediately, and open the way for a political process that can lead to free elections. This is the only way in which Syria can achieve peace and long-term stability,” Mr Støre said.
Syria has recently withdrawn its candidacy for membership of the UN Human Rights Council. In response to considerable international pressure, the Asia Group at the UN nominated Kuwait as its candidate, to replace Syria.
“This is an important and welcome development, which strengthens the credibility of the UN and the Human Rights Council and confirms their ability to champion human rights,” Foreign Minister Støre says.
In his foreign policy address to Parliament (Stortinget), Foreign Affairs Minister Espen Barth Eide said that we are living in a time of transition, a time of global changes in terms of power and influence.
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“The Government will in 2013 give priority to increasing our knowledge of the High North, as well as to strengthening Norway’s activities and presence in the region,” says Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.
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The Norwegian government is to provide NOK 105 million over a five-year period to the Research Council of Norway’s programme on Russia and international relations in the High North/Arctic (NORRUSS).
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Commenting on the National Budget for next year, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says the budget reflects the fact that the High North is the Government’s most important strategic foreign policy priority.
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The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is on Monday visiting Norway for political talks with Foreign Minister Jons Gahr Støre.
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Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is said to have prevented King Harald from handing out the Military Cross to war veterans on Veterans Day, on Sunday May 8th, Dagbladet reports.
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The High North is the Norwegian Government’s number one foreign policy priority, says Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, speaking at the Arctic Frontiers (AFT) 5th annual conference in Tromsø.
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Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has been widely criticised for allegedly having warned Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjørn Jagland about Chinese opposition to awarding the Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo.
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Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is in Afghanistan, where he has visited the Norwegian soldier who was wounded last Friday. He will also visit the two Norwegian military camps in Northern Afghanistan.
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The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs has been given the responsibility for setting up a new, full-spectrum monitoring and information system for the Northern sea and coastal areas (“BarentsWatch”).
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Hizbollah has strongly criticised UN's special envoy to the Middle East, the Norwegian diplomat Terje Roed-Larsen, accusing him of being Israel's errand boy...
