News

Norway has decided to align itself with the EU’s further sanctions against Iran. “The decision is an expression of Norway’s support for the efforts of the international community to engage Iran in a binding dialogue on its nuclear programme,” State Secretary Gry Larsen commented. Read more

Norway welcomes the clear advisory opinion delivered today by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the question of the Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo (request for advisory opinion). Read more

Speech by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre Read more

“It is positive that Israel has now decided to ease the blockade of Gaza. In my view, the blockade is counterproductive because it directly affects the civilian population and undermines the forces on the Palestinian side that are interested in peace. Moreover, it does not serve to enhance Israeli security,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

In the UN Human Rights Council today, Norway criticised the human rights situation in Iran on behalf of more than 50 countries. The joint statement was timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the controversial presidential election in Iran. Read more

In a statement dated 31 May, the UN Security Council condemns the acts that led to the loss of civilian lives when Israeli naval forces boarded the convoy carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The statement underscores the need for a prompt, impartial and credible investigation of the incident. Read more

“Norway is shocked that Israeli naval forces have shot and killed civilians while boarding a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza. I condemn this use of military force against civilians,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Norway and Indonesia agreed today to enter into a partnership to support Indonesia’s efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation of forests and peat lands. Indonesia will take immediate and decisive action to reduce its forest and peat related greenhouse gas emissions. Norway will support those efforts with one billion USD over the next few years. Read more

More than 60 countries agreed to concrete measures to address armed violence in Geneva on 12 May. Read more

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre received Josef Begun at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 23 April. Mr Begun spent most of the decade before the collapse of the Soviet Union in a labour camp in Siberia for promoting Jewish culture and the Hebrew language. During the same period, Mr Støre was engaged in human rights work in the Soviet Union, which also involved the situation of Soviet Jews. A... Read more

“Agreement has now been reached between the Norwegian and the Russian negotiating delegations on the bilateral maritime delimitation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, said Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Read more

Although there are those who have warned that increased activity and unresolved boundaries in the Arctic would raise tensions, developments in the region are bearing witness to just the opposite. Read more

The Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the Palestinian economy is stronger than it has been in a long time. This is reducing the Palestinians’ aid dependency. Read more

The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, commented, “I am very pleased that Norway’s initiative has resulted in a unanimous decision in the UN Human Rights Council on such an important issue.” ­Human rights defenders means individuals and organisations fighting against discrimination and for justice throughout the world. They include democracy activists, journalists, aut... Read more

The world’s largest wind turbine is to be built in Norway. Innovative technology will make the production of renewable energy far more efficient. Read more

At 8:30 pm 27 March 2010 Norway will plunge into darkness, joining in the world’s largest visual climate change campaign. Read more

The people of Norway chose Anette Sagen, Norway’s top woman ski jumper, to inaugurate the new Holmenkollen ski jump facility. Read more

On Tuesday, Israel announced plans to build 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem. The decision was announced at a critical time, as the Israelis and the Palestinians are about to start new peace talks. Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented: “Norway deeply deplores Israel’s expansion of its settlement in East Jerusalem. The peace process is in a critical phase, and Israel’s de... Read more

On 24 February, the Norwegian Ambassador in Teheran was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. During the meeting he was given an official note and a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Støre, in which Iran protested against Norway having granted asylum to Mohammed Reza Heydari. Read more

Have you seen them madly sweeping the ice dressed in their clown pants? The Norwegian men’s curling team has attracted widespread attention at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver thanks to its conspicuous attire. Read more