Norway welcomes decision on Syria

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre says Norway welcomes the important work being done by the Arab League to end the violence in Syria.

Støre says last week's historic decision to introduce sanctions shows that the region has lost confidence in the Assad regime.

The decision to introduce sanctions was taken when Syria failed to follow up the Arab League’s peace plan for the country. The sanctions will include a travel ban, freezing assets and stopping financial transactions and trade in certain goods. They have been drawn up with a view to exerting pressure on the Syrian authorities, not on the people. The Arab League is also looking into the possibility of stopping flights to and from Syria.

“The Arab League’s decision shows that countries in the region are joining the international community in condemning the Syrian authorities’ policy. We hope that the pressure from the Arab people in the region and the extensive sanctions introduced by the Arab League, the US and the EU, which Norway has aligned itself with, will bring about a change of course in Syria,” said Mr Støre.

(Press releaase)

Sunday, 04 December 2011 10:05

Written by Rolleiv Solholm

Critical to recruitment of Icelanders to Norwegian Army

There have negative reactions from politicians in Iceland to the news that Icelandic young men have been recruited to serve in the Norwegian Army on overseas missions, NRK reports. ..Read more...

Mediators' Conference opens in Oslo

The Oslo Forum 09 opens on Tuesday. The Forum seeks to provide diverse, frank and discreet discussions between top mediators and other key actors from around the world on major issues affecting peace and conflict today...Read more...

Oil & Gas: Government announces cut in production

The Norwegian Government will cut the production of oil by 100,000 - 200,000 barrels a day, in an effort to stabilize the price of crude on the world market. This was announced by the Oil and Energy Minister Thursday. ..Read more...

Norwegian concern for Yassir Arafat

Foreign Minister Jan Petersen warns Israel against taking any action against Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat. Petersen made the statement after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced that he no longer felt bound by his earlier promise not to harm Arafat...Read more...

Norway to consider sending observer force to the Sudan

Norway may be asked to supply troops to an international observer force in the Sudan, says Thorbjoern Jagland, head of the Foreign Relations Committee. There is now hope for peace after 20 years of civil war in the African nation...Read more...

Mordechai Vanunu asks Norway for help

The Israeli nuclear engineer Mordehchai Vanunu who was released on Wednesday after 18 years jail, has asked Norway for help to leave Israel on humanitarian grounds. The leader of the Foreign Relations Committe, Thorbjoern Jagland, says his request should be considered....Read more...

Foreign Minister Petersen to visit Yassir Arafat

Palestinian President Yassir Arafat will meet with Norway's Foreign Minister Jan Petersen when he travels to the Middle East on Wednesday. This has been confirmed by a spokesman for President Arafat...Read more...

EU and Turkey: - As important as the fall of the Berlin Wall

EU's decision to begin negotiations with Turkey is as improtant as the fall of the Berlin Wall. This is the opinion of Norway's former foreign minister, Thorbjoern Jagland....Read more...