ISSN 0804-709X
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ATTN: PRESSE- OG KULTURKONTORET
THE ROYAL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Press Division, Oslo
NORWAY DAILY NO. 94-97/94 OeW/KJ
DATE: 19 May 1994
HOLY WAR FOR PEACE (Aftenposten)
PLO chairman Yasser Arafat denied Wednesday that he had exhorted
the Palestinian people to wage a holy war to liberate Jerusalem
from Israeli occupation. "I wish to wage a holy war for peace,"
Mr. Arafat said during his visit to Oslo. Israeli Foreign Minister
Shimon Peres appeared to be satisfied with this clarification,
saying that he is confident that Mr. Arafat and the PLO will
honour all the provisions of the Oslo accord, which has created a
foundation for the peace process in the Middle East. Mr. Arafat
and Mr. Peres were invited to Norway in connection with the
Carter-Menil Human Rights Foundation's unveiling of the sculpture
"Marriage" at Akershus Fortress.
ARAFAT AND PERES AGREE ON FURTHER TALKS (NTB)
The PLO chairman and Isreal's Foreign Minister both expressed
their satisfaction with their meeting, in which former US
president Jimmy Carter and Norwegian Foreign Minister Bjoern Tore
Godal participated. Mr. Peres and Mr. Arafat stated that Israel
and the PLO will continue their discussion of the implementation
of the Oslo accord and the transfer of authority to the
Palestinians. "We are on the right track, and the peace process is
progressing," concluded Mr. Godal after the meeting. He also said
that the meeting between Mr. Peres and Mr. Arafat was not planned,
but that it was natural for them to meet for talks since they were
both in town at the same time. He views these as steps in the
right direction in an ongoing process.
GOVERNMENT WILL STAY REGARDLESS OF EU VOTE (NTB/Aftenposten)
Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland stated on Wednesday that the
Government will not step down if there is a majority vote against
accession to the EU in the autumn referendum. "The people must
decide, and no one should try to coerce them. We will have to
continue living together regardless of the outcome. My government
will do its best to cooperate with the EU even if the referendum
returns a No vote," said Ms. Brundtland in an address on Norway
and Europe delivered to the Washington elite. The Prime Minister
had talks with leading member of both houses of Congress before
and after her address. Personal contact is good to have if the
threat of whale sanctions is renewed in Congress. During her stay
in Washington, the Prime Minister made a particular point of
describing the environmental threat in northwest Russia,
especially on the Kola Peninsula. She warned again yesterday of a
potential ecological disaster in the Arctic regions, pointing out
that Norway has taken the initiative on regional cooperation with
a view to solving this and other problems in the north, as well as
promoting stability and improving living standards in the region.
FEARS OF A MINI-EEA (Arbeiderbladet)
The Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry is
apprehensive of a stripped-down version of the EEA agreement if
Norway and Iceland remain outside an enlarged European Union. The
Confederation characterizes an EEA with Norway and Iceland as the
only two EFTA countries as a stopgap measure that would provide
inferior conditions for export industries as well as domestic
industry that supplies export enterprises. It would be
particularly bad for Norwegian industry if Sweden and Finland join
the EU and benefit from the competitive advantages of membership.
The Confederation's executive committee will discuss the
organization's view of the results of the negotiations with the EU
next week.
ENVIRONMENTAL BOMBSHELL DROPPED BY EU (Dagens Naeringsliv)
The European Court of Justice has placed restrictions on the right
of individual countries to maintain higher environmental standards
than those laid down by the EU. This could prove to be a serious
problem for Norway, which has a number of unresolved environmental
issues in the aftermath of the membership negotiations. Norway
managed to secure a four-year transitional period in its
membership treaty with the EU. After the negotiations, the
Norwegian authorities have intimated that we will be able to
maintain our higher standards.
CRITICISM OF SECRET SERVICE INVESTIGATION (Arbeiderbladet)
Storting President Kirsti Kolle Groendahl has criticised the
commission that is investigating the defence intelligence services
for having summoned Storting representative Ingvald Godal to
appear in court. "I do not doubt that the Nygaard-Haug commission
is within its rights in taking this matter to the courts. I do
doubt, however, the appropriateness of this action. Not everything
that is legal should necessarily be done," says Ms. Groendahl.
WORTH NOTING:
- The defence establishment points out the hazards involved in
draining the "Bluecher's" fuel tanks, citing the huge quantities
of munitions and explosives aboard. An assessment of the risk may
result in the shelving of plans to empty the World War II wreck at
the bottom of the Oslo Fjord.
- The "Help to Rwanda" campaign is off to a flying start, having
received a NOK 5 million grant from the Foreign Ministry. The
Norwegian people also followed up on the 17th of May holiday with
collections taken in church services and at other events.
- The Postal Bank improved its profits by NOK 160 million during
the first quarter.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
Both Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres were present at yesterday's
unveiling of the Carter-Menil Foundation's gift to Norway for its
peace efforts in the Middle East. The sculpture now standing next
to the ancient Akershus Fortress is called "Marriage", but the
"marriage" between Israel and the PLO looks like it will be of the
modern sort: conflict-ridden at best, short-lived at worst. We
note, however, that Mr. Peres accepted Mr. Arafat's
"clarification" of the latter's small affair in which he yielded
to temptation and flirted with "holy war." (Arbeiderbladet)
DATE: 20 May 1994
NORWAY TO RAISE ISSUE OF UN SAFETY (Aftenposten)
Norway will ask NATO to discuss the safety of the UN forces in
Bosnia after they were fired on at the airport in Tuzla. The
situation was discussed in the Ministry of Defence yesterday and
it was decided that Defence Minister Joergen Kosmo should see to
it that the security problem is taken up at the meeting of NATO's
defence ministers to take place on Monday. "We feel the NATO
countries should take a joint stand on how to handle aggressive
fire against UN forces in Bosnia," says State Secretary Sigve
Brekke of the Ministry of Defence.
NORWAY EXPANDS BOSNIA EFFORT (NTB)
Only the Progress Party opposes expansion of Norway's UN effort in
Bosnia. The Norwegian UN contingent in the Tuzla area will thus be
augmented with a supply battalion of approximately 350 persons.
The Government's proposal presupposes that the Norwegian presence
in the former Yugoslavian republic of Macedonia will be gradually
phased out and that the Storting will allocate an additional NOK
186 million for 1994.
IMPOSSIBLE TO RAISE SUBMARINE WRECKAGE (Aftenposten)
The Russians will ask for Norwegian help in sealing the nuclear
submarine "Komsomolets", which sank off Bear Island in April 1989
after a fire. The Russian civil defence ministry and the
Komsomolets Foundation will publish a report on the condition of
the wreck today. The conclusion of the report is that it is
impossible to raise the vessel. This is the first time the Russian
authorities have issued an official statement on the state of the
submarine. Norwegian investigations concluded early on that the
wreckage is best left lying where it is, and that efforts to raise
the vessel will only add to the danger of radiation.
MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED ON NORWEGIAN FRIGATES (Aftenposten)
The technical committee appointed by the defence authorities to
investigate the sinking of the "Oslo" on 24 January this year has
concluded that all frigates in the Norwegian Navy will have to be
modified. The purpose of the modifications is to improve the
safety of the officers and crew aboard the Navy's biggest ships.
AIRBUS INVESTORS RISK TWO-YEAR SENTENCES
(Arbeiderbladet/Dagbladet)
The National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of
Economic and Environmental Crime has charged four former
executives of UNI Storebrand, including Group CEO Per Terje Vold,
for tax fraud in connection with their involvement in the
controversial Airbus A320 KS limited partnership. According to the
charge, the four have taken unwarranted tax deductions by back-
dating their Airbus investments. Whether or not charges will be
brought against Governor of Norges Bank Torstein Moland and
several other limited partners is not yet known. Senior Public
Prosecutor Einar Hoegetveit of the National Authority for
Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime
says that the Airbus affair is far from concluded.
WATSON WILL NOT APPEAR AT TRIAL (NTB)
Paul Watson, leader of the Sea Shepherd organization, will not
appear at the trial against him scheduled for 30 May in the
Lofoten Islands. Mr. Watson has said on previous occasions that he
will appear. Norwegian whalers have viewed these assurances with
scepticism, however. Paul Watson was behind the attempt to sink
the whaling vessel "Nybraenna" at its berth in the Lofotens on 26
December 1992.
GERMAN BOYCOTT MAY BRING MILLIONS IN LOSSES (Dagens Naeringsliv)
Europe's biggest retail chain, the German Metro Group, is removing
all Norwegian products from its shelves in protest against
Norwegian whaling. The Metro Group is the third major German
retailer to boycott Norwegian products. The boycott could cost
Norwegian companies millions of kroner. Norwegian exports such as
cheese, aquavit and fish products will be affected. The retailer's
executives made the decision to boycott Norwegian products in
response to threats from Greenpeace.
WORTH NOTING:
- The Norwegian Shipowners' Association fears that the
significance of the EEA agreement will wane. They desire full EU
membership of the EU instead.
- Saga Petroleum's oil reserves have been expanded by a promising
new discovery of oil west of Floroe.
- The Nygaard Haug commission will not at this point revoke its
subpoena on Storting representative Ingvald Godal.
- The Government wishes to establish by law that all matters dealt
with by the public administration shall be decided without undue delay.
- Johann Olav Koss, winner of four Olympic medals, has decided
that he will no longer take part in international skating
competition. Instead, he will concentrate on his medical studies.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
"We are on the right track, and the peace process is progressing."
These are the words of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bjoern Tore
Godal yesterday after meeting Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and
former US president Jimmy Carter. They were in Oslo for a brief
visit to hold talks and to pay tribute to Norway's modest, though
respectable, role in an extremely delicate peace process. We may
rightly be proud of the handful of Norwegian who have been able to
make a valuable contribution as mediators in the peace process in
the Middle East, and who will continue their efforts for as long
as the parties desire their assistance. At the same time, we
should avoid giving the impression that the Middle East and other
peace processes form the core of our foreign policy. Our own part
of Europe is where we can and should safeguard not only our
ideals, but also our concrete political and economic interests.
(Aftenposten)
DATE: 24 May 1994
WHALE SCIENTIST OPPOSES NORWEGIAN PROPOSAL (Aftenposten)
A leading IWC scientist rejects a Norwegian proposal to place
international observers aboard whaling vessels. "Norway has stated
that it will place national inspectors on board all whaling
vessels, but the international observers will be taken along only
if there is room. This won't do all," says British IWC scientist
Sidney Holt. Whaling commissioner Karsten Klepsvik confirms that
commissioners from other countries have been critical of the
proposal. In his opening speech at the IWC's annual meeting, Mr.
Klepsvik emphasized that it is necessary for Norway to pursue a
sustainable utilization of national resources. Mr. Klepsvik
requested the IWC to heed the recommendations of the Scientific
Committee by adopting the revised RMS (Revised Management Scheme)
proposal.
FOREIGN MINISTRY DOES NOT FEAR BOYCOTTS (Aftenposten/Saturday edition)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the Norwegian embassy
in Germany to contact Metro, the giant Swiss-German food retailer,
which has announced that it will boycott Norwegian goods because
of the whaling issue. "We are prepared and we take this seriously,
but in our experience, Greenpeace actions have not been all that
successful," says Foreign Ministry press spokesman Ingvard Havnen.
He does not disregard the likelihood that this action has been
deliberately planned to take place right before the annual meeting
of the International Whaling Commission in Mexico this week.
BARRAGE AGAINST JOHNSEN OVER MOLAND AFFAIR (Aftenposten/NTB/Dagens
Naeringsliv)
The breakaways from the Progress Party will be up against the wall
when the Storting meets to discuss the Moland affair today. Oscar
D. Hillgaar, spokesman for the four, advises Labour Party chairman
Thorbjoern Jagland to avoid arrogant behaviour during the Storting
debate on the no-confidence proposal. If he does not moderate
himself, the four may decide not to rescue the Finance Minister
after all. Years of smouldering discontent with partisan hiring
practices have contributed heavily to the heated atmosphere in the
Moland affair. A powerless opposition in the Storting has had to
sit by while the Labour Party has repeatedly placed its own people
in top positions in the Norwegian bureaucracy. The level of outcry
has varied, but if the next step turns out to be a majority vote
of no confidence in the Storting in the wake of the appointment of
Torstein Moland as Governor of Norges Bank, a significant part of
the reason will be the opposition's need to declare that enough is
enough. The present proposal for a no-confidence vote against
Finance Minister Sigbjoern Johnsen, the third since 1985, puts him
at the top of the list of cabinet ministers who have had a run-in
with the Storting.
GOVERNMENT ACTION IN GAS CONFLICT (Dagens Naeringsliv)
Minister of Industry and Energy Jens Stoltenberg will take action
in the dispute between the three Norwegian and seven foreign oil
companies in the Supply Committee over the issue of new fields for
supplying gas to buyers on the Continent. The issue at stake is
which fields are to be developed first in order to meet the supply
obligations that have already been contracted - the ones in the
northern part of the North Sea or on the Halten Bank. The Minister
expects to decide on the further handling of the issue sometime
this week.
EUROPEAN MOVEMENT NEEDS MONEY (Arbeiderbladet)
The European Movement in Norway has sent out a request for
financial support to private industry and to its own members. This
organization which works for accession to the EU hopes for NOK 30
million to spend on its campaign from July until the Norwegian EU
membership referendum in November. Chairman of "No to the EU"
Kristen Nygaard says he expects the European Movement to invest
enormous sums in its campaign. According to TV2, "No to the EU"
has NOK 46 million at its disposal.
WORTH NOTING:
- Kvaerner will move its headquarters and core industries out of
Norway if the voters turn down EU membership this autumn.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not consider contributing
funds to securing the nuclear submarine "Komsomolets" until Russia
submits a formal request.
- OPEC Secretary General Dr. Subroto understands Norway's decision
not to reduce oil production even though prices are low.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
Norway and Japan have formulated a compromise proposal to protect
whales in the Antarctic and will present it at the annual meeting
of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to take place in
Mexico this week. France originally proposed protection of all
whales below 40x south latitude. Norway views this proposal as a
threat to minke whaling in northern waters as well, and Japan, for
its part, wants to keep taking minke whales in the Antarctic.
Norway and Japan have therefore formulated a compromise tailored
to their specific interests, leaving minke whales out of the
protective measures. Even if the Norwegian-Japanese proposal is
adopted, there is no certainty that the whaling issue will
subside. Environmentalists around the world will still keep a
glaring spotlight on Norwegian minke whaling, despite the fact
that the species is not endangered and catches are restricted. (Dagbladet)
DATE: 25 May 1994
NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE ON MOLAND AFFAIR DID NOT PASS STORTING
(NTB/Arbeiderbladet/Aftenposten)
With a vote of 83 to 80, the Storting rejected a vote of no
confidence last night against the Government over the appointment
of Torstein Moland as Governor of Norges Bank. The Labour and
Christian Democratic parliamentary groups, together with the four
breakaways from the Progress Party, did not feel the handling of
this appointment justified a vote of no confidence. Finance
Minister Sigbjoern Johnsen and the Government were showered with
criticism, of which they "took note", with no admissions of any
significance. Party chairman Thorbjoern Jagland defended the
Government's evaluation of its appointee to the position of
Governor of Norges Bank. "The Government could not wait," claimed
Mr. Jagland. Labour's parliamentary leader, who has provoked
vehement reactions for his arrogant response to the Storting's
criticism, conceded that others might have "assessed the matter
differently". "In 'taking note' of the criticism, Labour spokesmen
simply acknowledge that the party has heard and understood the
views expressed by the Storting," says case spokesman Dag Jostein
Fjaervoll (Chr.Dem.). The Moland affair has weakened the Finance
Minister in the opinion of the opposition. "This is the third time
a vote of no confidence has been called against him, and support
for these proposals has been greater each time. Mr. Johnsen was
more subdued this time. Though he did not rebuff the criticism,
neither did he admit to having handled the appointment of Torstein
Moland poorly," says Socialist Left parliamentary leader
Kjellbjoerg Lunde.
NOTICE OF BOYCOTTS AGAINST NORWAY (Aftenposten)
Monitor, the umbrella organization for US environmentalist groups,
has given notice that Norway may expect a major wave of boycotts
as a result of its whaling activities. "The substantial doubts
raised over Norwegian minke whale population figures in the
northeast Atlantic have clearly put Norway on the defence. I'm
sure the upcoming boycotts aimed at Norwegian whaling will hit
Norwegian business interests harder now than they have in years,"
says Craig Van Note of Monitor.
LARSEN BECOMES KEY U.N. MAN IN MIDDLE EAST (Verdens Gang/NTB)
UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has asked peace
mediator Terje Roed Larsen to be the UN Assistant Secretary-
General in charge of Middle East affairs. "I can confirm that we
have received a communication from the UN Secretary-General. We
view this request as an acknowledgement of our policies and of
Norway's efforts in the Middle East peace process," said Minister
of Foreign Affairs Bjoern Tore Godal last night. Mr. Larsen has
confirmed his acceptance of the position. He will take up his new
duties immediately.
PURSUIT OF GODAL'S SOURCES CALLED OFF (Aftenposten)
The Nygaard-Haug commission has called off the hunt for Storting
representative Ingvald Godal's sources, and will round off the
rest of its investigation. The Storting registered its
satisfaction that the commission will soon conclude its work and
let Mr. Godal keep his sources confidential. "I still feel it was
proper to demand information from Mr. Godal, but too much time
would have elapsed if he were to take his appeal all the way to
the Supreme Court," says Ms. Nygaard-Haug.
BUSINESS CONFEDERATION SUPPORTS ACCESSION (Dagens Naeringsliv)
The leaders of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and
Industry believe the EEA Agreement will break down if Sweden,
Finland and Austria join the EU and Norway doesn't. The
Confederation's executive board decided yesterday to give its full
support to Norwegian accession to the EU. One result of this
decision is that the Confederation will contribute "substantially
more" to the accessionist organizations than the NOK 10 million it
has already provided.
WORTH NOTING:
- The Foreign Ministry allocates NOK 1.7 million to the prevention
of oil spills in Russia. A cooperation agreement will be signed today.
- Norwegian banks took approximately NOK 2.5 billion in fees last year.
- If Minister of Industry and Energy Jens Stoltenberg had sold
Statoil, he could have netted the State NOK 82 billion, according
to the latest value assessment.
- Frionor is prepared to move its production activities out of the
country if Norway stays out of the EU while Sweden and Finland join.
- The Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee and the Norwegian
Society for the Conservation of Nature have been awarded one of
the UN's six main prizes for environmental protection in 1994.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
"The Kvaerner Group will leave Norway, taking its most important
enterprises with it, if Norway turns down membership of the EU,"
says Group CEO Erik Toenseth. He predicts that other industries
will follow suit, including small and medium-sized businesses.
With statements like this, we hardly need anti-accession
organizations here in Norway. This sort of argumentation by
industrial executives only serves to make doubters and opponents
of EU membership even more sceptical of the move towards the EU.
There is nothing that puts people off more than threats of this
kind. We saw it in 1972, but it looks like some executives just
don't learn. Of course, some Norwegian industries just might be
better off relocating out of the country if Norway does not join
the EU. However, we would counsel executives to keep their threats
to themselves until after the people have had the chance to reject
membership in the referendum. The voters are not so dense that
they disregard this possibility. (Dagbladet)