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USD 1 = NOK 6.80 No. 18 - 1 June 1993
CONTENTS:
Boycotts start to bite (1)
No constitutional amendement to ease EC entry (2)
Keeping the wolf at the door (3)
Falling interest rate demonstrates Norway's economic strength (4)
Shipowners place big orders (5)
Telemedical aid to Russia and Nepal (6)
Centennial celebrated with three new coastal ships (7)
International festival in Norway's literary capital (8)
Tourism expanding - despite the whaling problem? (9)
Modern conference on historic ground (10)
norinform/1 1 June 1993
Boycotts start to bite
Despite a small escalation of the overseas boycott of Norwegian exports,
the "official" Norway still stands firmly behind the Government's
decision to resume commercial minke whaling.
The fish processing company Beek Feinkost in Hamburg announced last week
that it will boycott Norwegian fish products. It was soon followed by
the large German grocery store chain, Tengelmann which will boycott
salmon, Jarlsberg cheese and Aquavit (a Scandinavian form of distilled
spirits). The light fitting manufacturer, Glamox, A/S will be boycotted
by five builders and the grocery store chain, Kaiser, has excluded fish
processing firm Gottfried Friederich on account of its use of Norwegian
salmon in production.
Seen against this background, an increasing number of businessmen
believe that the Government should reverse its decision to resume
whaling. "We are rapidly approaching the pain threshold for the export
industry, perhaps we have already passed it," says Gunnar Flatland,
Conservative party spokesman on industrial policies. But although the
parties in the national assembly are clearly aware of the damaging
effects of boycotts on Norwegian industry, the representatives
unanimously back the Government's decision. Typical of the current mood
is a statement from the same Flatland stressing the importance of a
united front in the assembly in matters of national interest such as
this.
At a meeting last week between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,the
Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry, the Norwegian Trade
Council and the Norwegian Tourist Board, participants stressed the need
for a considerable expansion of the information campaign on minke
whaling.
norinform/2 1 June 1993
NO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO EASE EC ENTRY
Norway's Constitution will not be amended so that Norwegian EC
membership can be passed in the national assembly - the Storting - by a
two thirds majority, rather than the three quarters majority required
under present law. The executive committee of the Labour Party says it
will not propose constitutional amendments in order to ease Norway's
possible entry into the EC - the party has 63 out of the total of 165
Storting representatives.
The issue of an amendement has been debated recently because two of the
Storting parties, the Socialist Left and the Centre Party, both EC
opponents, have not pledged to respect the outcome of an advisory
plebiscite on EC membership, regardless of the result. Labour leader
Thorbjoern Jagland says the party's representatives will respect the
people's will, irrespective of whether they are theoretically in favour
of membership or opposed to it. The remaining parties in the Storting
will presumably do the same. It has also been proposed that the result
of the referendum shall be binding for the Storting; the Labour Party
has as yet made no decision on this point.
Meanwhile, the membership debate continues to rage in Norway. Despite
the fact that the final result of Norway's ongoing talks with the EC
will not be known for months, a clear majority of Norwegians has already
found cause to say "No" to membership. Gallup polls show a 51 per cent
majority of Euro-sceptics, while the Euro-friendlies can only muster 30
per cent; 19 per cent are still undecided. Poll results vary, but so far
the EC opponents have hung doggedly onto their lead. But Europe sees
things differently. A poll conducted by the EC commission shows that 79
per cent of those polled would welcome Norway into the EC.
norinform/3 1 June 1993
KEEPING THE WOLF AT THE DOOR
If they could read, Norway's dwindling reserve of wolves would breathe
a sigh of relief. Contrary to expectations, the Odelsting, the larger
division of the national assembly, has passed a resolution which
forbids killing wolves unless they are chasing or directly attacking
livestock or domesticated reindeer. Furthermore, an almost
unanimous Odelsting voted to give the Government the ultimate
authority to have the wolf placed under total protection, if the need
should arise.
The motion was passed by 44 votes to 40, providing a narrow
victory for the Government and for Minister of the Environment,
Thorbjoern Berntsen and his protection plan for this highly
endangered species. The voting followed an at- times heated debate in
which Berntsen pointed out that a rejection of the Government's
proposal would clear the way for the legal slaughter of the last
wolf in Norway.
The Labour Party and the Socialist Left had been expecting defeat on
this issue, as the non-socialists appeared to be united in their
opposition to the proposal. But the eloquence of the wolf's defenders
must have touched a sympathetic nerve, as three mavericks from the
non-socialist parties, plus one independent, added their votes to
the Government's side. One of the non-socialist dissenters, Kaare
Gjoennes of the Christian Democrats, quoted the Bern Convention, and
its clear obligation to protect endangered species, as the grounds
for stepping out of party lines.
The wolf population along the Norwegian-Swedish frontier is estimated
at 8 - 10 animals.
norinform/4 1 June 1993
FALLING INTEREST RATE DEMONSTRATES NORWAY'S ECONOMIC STRENGTH
After Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, once again cut the
interest rate on overnight loans, the Norwegian rate is now lower than
the German, a state of affairs long considered to be an economic
impossibility.
One can therefore say that Hermod Skaanland, head of the bank, issued
important signals to the rest of the world when, on 24 May, he sank the
interest on overnight loans by a further 0.25 percentage points to 7.5
per cent. On the same day, the central bank sold USD 882 million worth
of bonds at an interest rate of 6.81 per cent.
"This is clear proof of the strength of the Norwegian krone, and it also
shows that the rest of the world has faith in the Norwegian economy,"
says Managing Director Harald Gullaasen in the stockbroking firm Alfred
Berg Norge.
Director Jan F.Quigstad in Norges Bank says that Norway is at last
experiencing an inflow of currency after the bank has purchased foreign
currency worth USD 6.9 billion since 1 January, while the krone exchange
rate has strengthened. Gullaasen now expects a drop in the rates on short
term credits too. "I think the short term interest rate will fall to 5
per cent and the long term rate on gilt edged securities to 6.25 per
cent within six months," he says. In his opinion this will have a
favourable influence on both business and private economy as well as on
the will to invest.
norinform/5 1 June 1993
SHIPOWNERS PLACE BIG ORDERS
Recession prices at shipyards and hopes of a better shipping market have
convinced Norwegian shipowners that now is the time to order new ships.
In the past month alone, they have placed orders worth a total of USD
590 million. Medium-sized dry-cargo ships are in particular demand. The
orders come at a time when there is a strong need for jobs among yards
in Japan and Korea. Brokers estimate that shipyard prices are about as
low as they go, and it can now be profitable for owners to sell their
used ships.
Among the shipowning firms that are counting on an upswing in the dry-
cargo market is the Bergen based Billabong, which has ordered two 45,000
deadweight tonne (d.w.t.) vessels in Japan. Another Bergen shipowner,
Westfal-Larsen & Co., has signed an agreement of intent with Korea's
Daewoo shipyard to build four dry-cargo container ships, each at 46,000
d.w.t., with an option for two more. A third shipowner in Bergen,
Gearbulk, is negotiating to buy two medium-sized dry-cargo ships, as is
Bona Shipping in Oslo which has signed an intent agreement for two with
an option for another one. The Oslo shipowning firm, B. Skaugen, has
ordered two 43,000 d.w.t. dry-cargo ships in Korea with an option on two
more.
Shipowners have been reluctant to place orders for some time, and ageing
world fleets are long due for renewal. It appears as if the time has
finally come for investments and newbuilding, at least in the dry-cargo
market.
norinform/6 1 June 1993
TELEMEDICAL AID TO RUSSIA AND NEPAL
Within one year, telemedical cooperation, whereby doctors and other
medical personnel can communicate over long distances, will have been
established between Norway and Russia. Starting next year, Nepal will
also be given Norwegian assistance in building up telemedical systems.
The Russian-Norwegian cooperation was symbolically commenced at a recent
international conference on telemedicine, which was held in Tromsoe,
North Norway. More than 200 participants from 21 countries attended the
meeting.
Norway has reputedly come a long way in this form of medical assistance,
and overseas participants said they had a good deal to learn from
Norwegian methods. In recent years, the Norwegian health authorities
have cooperated closely with the State Telegraph Administration in order
to find satisfactory technical procedures. Several hospitals and health
centres in North Norway now have special studios where TV images and
sounds can be transmitted to medical experts in many fields of medicine,
thus easing the task of diagnosis. Telemedicine makes it possible to
make a swift and accurate diagnosis without the patient having to travel
a long way to consult a specialist. It has proved to be particularly
effective in diagnosing ear, nose and throat complaints. "But we are
always looking for new fields of application," says senior medical
officer Tor J.Eide at the pathological department of the Tromsoe Regional
Hospital. He envisages linking international medical expertise in a
global network, which will tap medical expertise from all over the
world, not only for diagnostic purposes but also as an aid in carrying
out operations and giving psychiatric treatment.
norinform/7 1 June 1993
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATED WITH THREE NEW COASTAL SHIPS
The coastal passenger and freight line "Hurtigruta" - which travels
daily between Bergen on the west coast and Kirkenes in the far north -
is a century old this year. The centennial is being celebrated by the
christening of three new vessels.
Eleven ships traffic the route, which takes 11 days to complete and has
35 ports of call. In 1992, the state highway No. 1, as the "Hurtigruta"
has been called, carried about 280,000 passengers who spent a total of
400,000 nights on board. The line can be viewed as the biggest tourist
hotel in the country. The three shipowning firms that run the line
predict that overnight stays can increase by 50 per cent when the three
new ships are operative. They also hope to attract more tourists to the
"coastal highway" in the off seasons, spring and autumn. If they succeed
in these efforts, the route might be lengthened to Murmansk in the north
and southwards to Stavanger. The line will run a few trial visits to the
Russian coastal city this summer, and next summer it will even test a
trip to Svalbard. The first of the three new ships will begin to traffic
the coast in July, and all three will be be in service by February 1994.
The centenarian, which will be saluted by the coastal public on its
birthday on 2 July, is no invalid. Testifying to its vitality, the
state is gradually cutting annual subsidies from about USD 30 million to
zero by the year 2001.
norinform/8 1 June 1993
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL IN NORWAY'S LITERARY CAPITAL
The town of Molde, on Norway's west coast, celebrated its 250th
anniversary last year. To mark the occasion, it launched the Bjoernson
Festival of Literature in tribute to Bjoernstjerne Bjoernson, a national
poet and author and laureate of the Nobel Prize. The Festival was a big
success, encouraging the promoters to launch a follow-up, the
International Festival of Literature, which will be held in Molde from 4
to 11 July.
Though not born in Molde, Bjoernson grew up in the region and considered
himself a native of the area. He made its exquisite scenery the
backdrop for many of his poems and novels; Henrik Ibsen too was inspired
by the beauty of Molde's surroundings when he wrote "Rosmersholm" and
"The Lady from the Sea" - two of his best-loved plays. This literary
tradition has been perpetuated by contemporary writers from this region
and Molde was an obvious choice for the title "literary capital of
Norway" during the last Bjoernson Festival, in 1992.
A wide range of authors and interesting events will be on offer at this
year's festival. Readings by well-known writers from Norway and abroad,
lectures, seminars, performances for children, writing workshops,
theatre, exhibitions, concerts - the visitor will have much to choose
from. Last year's festival had a distinctly Nordic profile, but this
year it will be more internationally orientated, with authors from a
number of countries. The big names in this connection are Fay Weldon,
from England, Gore Vidal from the USA (who will officially open the
Festival) and Justo Jorge Padron from Spain. The organizers' aim is to
create a festival with a wide literary scope and to give all book-lovers
a chance to find something of interest.
norinform/9 1 June 1993
TOURISM EXPANDING - DESPITE THE WHALING PROBLEM?
The tourist trade, a gilt-edged industry in Norway, where it employs
90,000 - 100,000 people, is expecting another year of growth and has so
far not registered any ill effects of the whaling controversy.
Nevertheless, tourist offices are a little anxious as to whether the
many boycott threats from abroad will be followed up in practice.
Nortra, the Norwegian Tourist Board, has the whaling issue at the top of
its list of uncertainties as regards making a prognosis of developments.
If the whaling controversy is disregarded, a 4 per cent growth is
expected this year in the number of foreign guests nights, compared to
1992.
According to Nortra's figures, gross turnover from tourism reached
between USD 6.6 and 7.3 billion last year, with a third of this amount
coming from foreigners. The statistics cover both pure tourism and
business trips, as well as those who combine the two. A four per cent
growth would push turnover up by USD 83 million. But greater volume is
not necessarily synonymous with improved profits. Tougher competition,
not least in the hotel sector, has dragged prices down during the last
few years, making it more difficult for many in the trade to survive.
Though the whaling controversy causes unease, tourist authorities are
pleased that so many of the foreign tourists who have come to Norway
this summer appear to be unaware of the whole issue. What the trade
fears most is declining figures next year, as an aftermath of the
conflict.
norinform/10 1 June 1993
MODERN CONFERENCE ON HISTORIC GROUND
Politicians and experts on atomic energy from 12 countries will
convene in the Norwegian town of Rjukan from 16-18 June to discuss
current attitudes towards atomic energy. Among the 250 guests
invited are former US Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger and Josef
Goldblat from the Programme for International and Strategic Studies
in Geneva. Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johan Joergen Holst
will also attend, as will Joachim Roenneberg, who led the famous
sabotage action against the heavy water plant at Rjukan, during the
German occupation of Norway- see Norinform 26.1.1993. It was the
manager of the Vemork Industrial Museum at Rjukan, Bjoern
Edvardsen, who took the initiative to the conference, which aims to put
the Vemork sabotage action, which took place 50 years ago, into a
historic perspective.
The 250 participants will discuss atomic energy and policy, war and
peace and the cold war as viewed against the background of
developments in nuclear technology. James Schlesinger and Johan Joergen
Holst will debate the theme of war and peace through an assessment of
cold war policies.
Participants will take a closer look at the role which Norwegian sales
of heavy water may have had on the proliferation of nuclear weapons,
with special focus on the dangers of a nuclear war in Asia.
Russia's minister of energy V.N.Michajlov will speak on the issue of
Russia's nuclear power plants on the Kola peninsula and their effect
on the Scandinavian countries.
.