ISSN 0804-709X
www.norwaves.com
NORINFORM - Weekly Edition
Produced by NORINFORM, Norwegian Information Service,
P.O. Box 241 Sentrum, N-0103 Oslo, Norway
Tel (47) 22 11 46 85, Fax (47) 22 42 48 87
Editors: Ragnvald Berggrav, Helge Loland
The NORINFORM press office was established by The Norwegian
Information Council and provides overseas news services in
several languages, daily (in English only) and weekly.
NORINFORM also produces the monthly magazine Norway Now and a
fulltext database containing bulletins and articles about
Norway.
Information from Norinform is complimentary. Reproduction
permitted. Please mention source of information.
*****************************************************************************
USD 1 = NOK 7.4 No. 24 - 17 August 1993
CONTENTS:
"Unwarranted" US condemnation of whaling (1-2)
Next central bank governor selected (3)
Ten billion dollar gas deal with the Germans (4)
Mounting refugee flow from Bosnia (5)
Fresh triumph for Heyerdahl (6)
Solid Support to Eastern Europe (7)
Growing public sector (7)
Booming tourist industry (8)
Student Princess (9)
Norwegian choir acclaimed as world's best (9)
In vino veritas (10)
norinform/1-2 17 August 1993
"UNWARRANTED" US CONDEMNATION OF WHALING
The Government considers the U.S Department of Commerce's recent
condemnation of Norwegian coastal whaling to be unwarranted. It could
lead to a boycott of Norwegian exports as a follow-up to the so-called
Pelly Amendment. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown has taken a step
towards possible sanctions against Norway in a formal letter to
President Clinton, who has until 6 October to respond.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that Norway opposes the hunt
of all endangered species and strongly objects to irresponsible whaling.
Moreover, the scientific committee of the International Whaling
Commission has concluded that minke whales are neither endangered nor
vulnerable - the current North Atlantic stock is estimated at 87,000 -
and in May 1993 the committee passed a unanimous recommendation
regarding the management of limited whaling.
"It would be unprecedented in relations between two close allies if the
USA were to impose sanctions against Norway," said Minister of Foreign
Affairs Johan Joergen Holst at a recent press conference where he vowed
to persevere in the whaling issue.
..../.....
norinform/2 cont. 17 August 1993
Thus, Norway rejects the argument of the US Secretary of Commerce when
he claims that the country's traditional whaling undermines the effect
of the IWC protection programme. Norway's arguments have received
considerable coverage in the American media and the support of some
pressure groups. But for some people whales serve as ecological icons,
and anti-whaling sentiments are not easily swayed by the facts. The
Norwegian business daily, "Dagens Naeringsliv", writes that even
American observers who share Norwegian views about minke whaling think
that there is a 50-50 chance that President Bill Clinton will implement
sanctions against Norway.
There is no denying that some Norwegian exporters are concerned about
negative reactions to the whaling. A survey conducted in August by
Feedback Research for Dagens Naeringgsliv indicates that only 36 per cent
of Norwegian businessmen think that the whaling controversy has had a
significant negative effect on Norwegian companies' image and potential
sales abroad. Apprehension about possible negative consequences is
greater in Oslo (50 per cent) than on the west coast (24 per cent) or
North Norway (15 per cent).
Small companies appear to be more worried than bigger ones. Among
corporate executives who vote for the Conservatives, 44 per cent think
that the whaling issue jeopardizes exports, while only 30 per cent of
business leaders who sympathise with the Labour Party share the same
fear.
norinform/3 17 August 1993
NEXT CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR SELECTED
Torstein Moland (48) will on 1 January take on one of Norway's most
important jobs when he becomes the new governor of the Norges Bank, the
central bank, succeeding Hermod Skaanland who has held the position since
1985. There were many well-qualified applicants, but in the
Government's opinion, Moland was best suited to the job. The
appointment has roused strong reactions among the Conservatives, the
Progress Party and the Socialist Left Party. Though conceding that
Moland's qualifications were satisfactory, they criticized the fact that
the Government has so consistently appointed "its own people" to top
public positions.
Since 1990, Moland has been C.E.O. at the wood processing concern,
Norske Skogindustrier. From 1982-86 he served as an economic advisor to
the Labour Party's Storting Group and in 1986-89 as state secretary at
the office of Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. Asked whether the
Nowegian krone should remain unpegged, Moland says that it was cut loose
last autumn because there was no alternative. He adds, however, "It's in
Norway's interests that we re-establish cooperation involving fixed
exchange rates with our most important partners in trade. Stability in
this area is beneficial for Norway," he says.
Moland is reluctant to predict the outcome of the unstable European
currency regulation, or suggest how far interest rates should fall. In
his opinion, the biggest challenge facing Norwegian business and
industry is to create lasting jobs, though he adds that there is no easy
answer to the unemployment problem. Anoher problem he thinks should be
addressed is the outsized fiscal deficit.
norinform/4 17 August 1993
TEN BILLION DOLLAR GAS DEAL WITH THE GERMANS
After 25 rounds of talks lasting more than a year the seven Troll field
partners, led by state oil company Statoil, have negotiated an agreement
which can boost gas exports by nearly USD 10 billion over a 25 year-
period.
Germany's biggest gas concern, Ruhrgas, has contracted to buy large
additional amounts of Troll gas, while both Ruhrgas and the two other
purchasers, BEB and Thyssengas have agreed to pay more for the
commodity.
Ruhrgas would like extra deliveries of 2 billion cubic metres of gas a
year, starting in 1997, and has also - two years ahead of time -
exercised its option under the Troll deal to buy a further 1.5 billion
cubic metres. Reliable sources have put the value of the Rugrgas deal at
about USD 410 million a year, or approximately USD 10 billion over the
contract period.
With the signing of the latest deal, Norway has contracted to supply a
total of 44.7 billion cubic metres of gas starting in 1997. German
buyers will purchase about half of this amount; Ruhrgas alone accounting
for 14.2 billion. By the year 2005, Norway will be supplying the
Germans with about 25 cent of their gas.
Other partners on the Troll field who will also reap the benefits of the
gilt-edged deal are Hydro, Saga, Shell, Conoco, Elf and Total.
norinform/5 17 august 1993
MOUNTING REFUGEE FLOW FROM BOSNIA
Norway, Italy and Spain are now the only European countries which do not
impoose visa restrictions on refugees from the former Yugoslavia. The
result has been an explosive increase in the number of Bosnians arriving
in Norway. Of the 2, 436 Bosnian asylum seekers recently registered in
Norwegian refugee reception centres, more than half had arrived in Oslo
after Denmark and Sweden demanded visas from refugees arriving from the
Balkans.
In July alone, nearly 1,100 fled the Balkans to seek refuge in Norway
and in the first week of August 400 new applicants arrived at Oslo's
Fornebu airport. The refugees are housed in 85 state reception centres
spread throughout Norway but new centres must continuously be set up in
order to meet the increasing influx. Arild Kjerschow, head of the
Directorate of Immigration says that three new centres are being
established every week, a development that he expects will continue.
Almost 80 per cent of the Bosnian refugees are Muslims, though Bosnian
Serbs and Croats have also been registered.
In addition to asylum seekers, Norway has also opened its doors to 1,160
so-called quota refugees from Bosnia. These are prisoners of war and
their families who have been hand-picked by the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees. Norway has pledged to accept a total quota of 3,500 quota
refugees this year.
norinform/6 17 August 1993
FRESH TRIUMPH FOR HEYERDAHL
Thor Heyerdahl, Norway's world-renowned ethnologist and explorer has
added a sensational new find to his list of achievements. While armed
guards kept a vigil against bandits, 79-year old Heyerdahl carefully
unwrapped the mummified remains of a 600-year old Inca chieftain at
Tucum-,Peru,in July. The find was the first of its kind to have been
made in Peru and crowns Heyerdahl's 5-year long excavation project at
Tucum-, the world's largest collection of pyramids, 26 in all.
The Inca chieftain, who appears to have been the local representative of
the Inca emperor in Cuzco, was clad in a coat of cotton, richly adorned
with many-coloured feathers, silver and gold. His silver breastplate
was embossed with pearls, and beside him lay a ceremonial sceptre. The
body was wrapped in a two-centimetre layer of pitch to stop moisture
penetrating the 23 layers of textiles protecting the body.
The chieftain did not make his journey into death alone. In an
adjoining room lay the remains of 20 young girls, weavers of holy
garments, who were sacrificed at the time of the burial. Four other
mummies, believably servants, were also found.
The Peruvian authorities have not yet decided where the sensational
finds are to be displayed. Possible options are the capital, Lima,
nearby Lambayeque, or a specially-built museum in Tucum- itself.
norinform/7 17 August 1993
SOLID SUPPORT TO EASTERN EUROPE
In the first half of this year, Norway has pledged financial aid towards
487 projects in Eastern Europe - at a cost of USD 46 million.
For 1993 a total sum of USD 62 million has been earmarked for
implementing a plan of action formulated by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. The money is meant to be a form of help towards self-help until
such time as the developing democratic structures have gained a solid
foothold.
Out of the total aid granted so far this year a sum of USD 23 million
has been channeled into business projects and various kinds of
infrastructural programmes. Around USD 8 million has gone to
environmental projects, while USD 5 million has been put into democracy-
stimulating measures. Educational and research-related projects have
received nearly USD 2.6 million and a slightly smaller sum has been
channeled into support for the health and social sector. Russia has
received USD 14 million of the funds granted so far.
GROWING PUBLIC SECTOR
The number of people working in central and local government in Norway
has for the first time reached the 30 per cent mark. Since 1977,
200,000 people have joined the ranks of the civil servants, bringing
their total number up to 600,000.
norinform/8 17 August 1993
BOOMING TOURIST INDUSTRY
According to Nortra, the Norwegian Tourist Board, tourism in Norway
continues to flourish. Economic doldrums and a cool wet summer - at
least in southern Norway - have failed to dampen the ardour of both
Norwegian and foreign holidaymakers.
Norwegian tourists still outnumber foreigners by about 2 to 1 at
Norwegian hotels and guesthouses but overseas tourists accounted for
2.127 million guest nights at Norwegian hotels and boarding houses in
the first six months of the year, compared with 2.005 million in the
same period last year.
As in previous years, most of the increase can be traced to the growing
influx of German visitors, with 378,000 guest nights in the six-month
period, which is well above Nortra's target. A slight drop in tourism
from Sweden has been offset by a small increase in Danish and Finnish
visitors. Traffic from southern Europe continues to swell. Compared
with last year, the number of French tourists rose by 33 per cent in the
January-April period and 11 per cent in May and June.
During the last decade, tourism has risen from being a supplementary
source of business income to become an important industry, accounting
for 13 per cent of Norwegian exports and a turnover of USD 2.2 billion.
If oil and gas are excluded from statistics, only the mechanical
engineering industry has a bigger share of exports (26 per cent).
Tourism has taken its place alongside the fishing industry in terms of
income gained.
norinform/9 17 August 1993
STUDENT PRINCESS
Within a few years, patients at hospitals in the Oslo area may receive
genuinely royal treatment, at the hands of the King's daughter. Princess
M?rtha Louise, 21 year-old daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja has
decided to become a physiotherapist and to pursue this career alongside
her official duties. Her studies will last three years.
The princess competed with 5,200 other applicants for the 100 places at
the physiotherapy school. She insisted on having her application
treated like any other, and was given no preferential treatment during
the selection process. Princess M?rtha Louise has shown a strong
commitment to public service and has served, among other things, as a
goodwill ambassador to the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees.
NORWEGIAN CHOIR ACCLAIMED AS WORLD'S BEST
In the recent International Eisteddfod at Llangollen in North Wales -
the Norwegian women's choir " Cantus" from Trondheim received the
highest accolade possible when it was named "Choir of the World".
Competition at this annual international festival in Wales is extremely
keen and "Cantus" collected double honours in that the 268 points it was
awarded by the jury was the highest number ever given in the 47 year-old
history of this prestigious competition.
norinform/10 17 August 1993
IN VINO VERITAS
Norway can now pride itself on having its first M.W, M.W ? - Master of
Wine - one of an -lite which numbers only 180 on a worldwide basis. The
man who has put Norway into this select company is 36 year-old Arne
Ronold, a graduate engineer from Oslo, who recently passed the five
final, theoretical tests qualifying him to put M.W after his name. He
also became the first in the Nordic countries to achieve this
distinction.
Contrary to what many would expect, the exams take place, not in France,
but in London, at the Institute of Masters of Wine, which was
established in 1953. Two years ago, the Norwegian engineer tasted, and
sniffed his way through three practical tests, lasting four days. Arne
Ronold was successful with the practical tests, but two years were to
pass before he managed the extremely tough theoretical questions. For
anyone lured by the thought of a pleasant period of study, crowned by
success the rate of failure is 87 per cent.
Arne Ronold's daily work consists of measuring the behaviour of wind
currents around oil drilling platform and in ventilation installations.
His workplace is Norway's well-known ship and offshore classification
society, Det norske Veritas - in vino veritas?.
.