ISSN 0804-709X
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THE ROYAL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Oslo
Press Division
NORWAY DAILY No. 26-30/95 OeW/KJ
DATE: 6 February 1995
GOVERNMENT OIL REVENUE WINDFALL (Aftenposten)
The Government has recently realized that this year's oil
output will set new production records. According to
Aftenposten's sources, production estimates for 1995 will be
adjusted upwards from 2.6 million barrels to 2.8 million
barrels, a matter of 200,000 barrels of oil per day. At
current oil prices, this represents additional revenues of NOK
8.08 billion. Of this, around NOK 6.3 billion will go to the
state in the form of taxes. This amount will be taken into the
revised national budget this spring. It was previously
estimated that the 1995 budget deficit would be around NOK 10
billion. These unforeseen revenues will now bring the budget
much closer to balance and increase the likelihood of a budget
surplus in 1996. Advances in technology and efficiency have
raised production levels, making Norway the world's next
biggest exporter of oil.
CONSERVATIVES ARE LABOUR'S SOLE CHALLENGER (Arbeiderbladet-
Saturday edition)
Jan Petersen, Conservative party chairman, does not hesitate
to declare the Conservatives Norway's next biggest political
party. The Centre party's assault on Labour from the left will
never amount to more than an assault, in the view of Mr.
Petersen. Mr. Petersen takes Nielsen Norge's latest poll,
which puts the Conservatives at a comfortable 17.5 per cent,
as another affirmation that the Conservatives have outstripped
the Centre Party. The Conservatives gained 2.3 points while
the Centre lost 0.6 points, leaving them at 13.4 per cent.
Labour went down 2.1 points to 41.5 per cent, the Christian
Democrats were down 2.1 points to 6.9 per cent, and Progress
went up 1.6 points to 6.1 per cent.
NORWEGIAN STATE AGENCY PAYING IRANIAN BILLS (Aftenposten)
Recent figures from the Norwegian Guarantee Institute for
Export Credit (GIEK) reveal that Norway has paid NOK 36
million in compensation to Norwegian enterprises for Iranian
nonperformance of financial obligations. This is a 28 per cent
increase from the previous year. The GIEK has provided credit
guarantees to Norwegian enterprises exporting to Iran. A
further two guarantees, the most recent in January, have been
granted to Norwegian companies trading with Iran since the
attempted murder of a Norwegian publishing house director.
"Yes, we were aware of the latest guarantees granted for Iran
in January," says Minister of Trade and Shipping Grete
Knudsen. She says there is no way around fulfilment of the
legally binding guarantees provided by GIEK.
MONEY-MAKING STATE CORPORATIONS (Dagens Naeringsliv)
Minister of Transport and Communications Kjell Opseth is the
Government's big money-maker. He is the highest ranking
official in charge of state-owned corporations that will be
ringing up over three billion kroner in aggregate profits this
year. The Postal Administration, Telenor and the Civil
Aviation Administration are funnelling revenues straight into
the Treasury. The only detraction from Mr. Opseth's corporate
executive performance is the Norwegian State Railway (NSB),
which lost NOK 200 million in 1994.
ROYAL JEWELS STOLEN (Verdens Gang/Aftenposten)
Jewels owned privately by the Norwegian royal family were
among the jewels stolen in a dramatic robbery that took place
in London yesterday. Sky News had reported that the Norwegian
crown jewels had been taken, creating chaos in the Norwegian
news media yesterday evening. The regalia are safely ensconced
in their vault in the Nidaros Cathedral, however.
WORTH NOTING:
- This is not an appropriate time to sell Norwegian arms to
Turkey, in the view of many Norwegian legislators.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reducing export controls
and removing licensing requirements on a number of high
technology products. Norwegian manufacturers should not have
to struggle with uneven handicaps in a world where competition
is keen.
- The five persons charged with child abuse in the Bjugn
affair were exonerated completely by the Fosen court of
examination, and the Commissioner for Children and the public
services involved were criticized severely.
- The Norwegian Association of the Disabled is advocating
legislation to bar municipalities from placing children and
young people in convalescent homes and homes for the aged.
- An application for state support for a Muslim elementary
school in Oslo has been turned down.
- Persons living in isolated areas should be able to order
wine and spirits through the local grocery store, according to
a proposal by Kjell Borgen, Hedmark County Governor and long-
time Labour politician.
- The well-known and beloved Vigeland statue, "Sinnetagen",
was painted red by taggers yesterday. Vigeland's "Monolith"
was also defaced.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
Sales of Norwegian arms to Turkey is a recurring topic of
debate in Norway. The Government's reply to critics has been
that the weapons components sold to Turkey can only be used in
border defences. However, both the Government and its critics
should temper their views in the matter somewhat. Even though
the Government is putting off approval of naval weapons sales,
it will eventually accept these sales. Yet there is no reason
to get upset over Turkey's desire to buy minesweepers and
Penguin missiles unless one advocates broader trade sanctions
against Turkey as well. Minesweepers can hardly be used in
military campaigns in remote villages, nor can the Penguin
missiles, which are suitable only for naval targets. The
Government should suspend sales of certain other weapons,
however. (Arbeiderbladet-Saturday edition)
DATE: 7 February 1995
NEW MACHINE GUNS UNSERVICEABLE (Aftenposten)
1,300 new Turkish machine guns procured by the Norwegian
defence forces have been withdrawn from service due to serious
technical defects. 5,200 MG-3s were ordered from Turkey at a
cost of NOK 86 million. These weapons are earmarked for the
defence of southern Norway. "When we discovered the defects,
we ordered the consignments received in 1992 and 1993 taken
out of service. Whenever we are in doubt on safety matters, we
remove the weapons from service," says divisional engineer
Truls Augensen of the Royal Army Logistics Command. He
underscores that the Turkish manufacturer was required to
correct the defects at its own expense by the end of 1994.
STORTING MUST SUPERVISE EEA AGREEMENT (Arbeiderbladet)
Not a single comma may be changed in Norwegian legislation in
response to the EEA Agreement without the Storting having a
say in the matter, in the view of Haakon Blankenborg (Lab.)
chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr.
Blankenborg wants to ensure that the Government does not bind
Norway to EEA commitments without informing the Storting and
giving it the opportunity to make its will known. At present
there is a special consultative group for EEA matters in the
Storting, which the Minister of Trade and Shipping meets with
once each month to discuss matters to be dealt with in the EEA
Committee in Brussels. The Storting Presidium will decide
sometime this week how EEA business is to be handled in the
Storting.
"NO TO THE EU" OVEREXTENDED ITSELF (Aftenposten/Verdens Gang)
"No to the EU"s financial crisis culminated when the
organization received NOK 2.7 million less in membership dues
for 1995 than anticipated in the budget, according to a report
by acting Secretary General Leif Hjulstad on the background
for the deficit, which is estimated at NOK 7.2 million.
According to Mr. Hjulstad, the main cause was that the
organization spent NOK 3.5 - 4 million more than budgeted in
the final stage of the campaign, in addition to hiring staff
beyond its financial means. Orkla Group CEO Jens P. Heyerdahl
now urges all who opposed EU membership to help "No to the EU"
out of its deep financial crisis. "It is only reasonable that
all who were involved on the NO side make a contribution. I
will do so myself," says Mr. Heyerdahl.
SOCIALIST LEFT ADVOCATES NUCLEAR-FREE ZONE (NTB)
The Socialist Left Party is calling for the creation of a
nuclear weapons-free zone in Scandinavia. Together with the
other socialist left parties in the Nordic countries, Norway's
Socialist Left party has raised the issue prior to the meeting
of the Nordic Council in Reykjavik later this month.
Kjellbjoerg Lunde, parliamentary leader for the Socialist
Left, says it is natural to include the Baltics, Karelia and
the Kola Peninsula in a Nordic nuclear weapons-free zone.
SEAT OF NORWEGIAN CHURCH BACK TO NIDAROS? (Vaart Land)
Trondheim should be Norway's ecclesiastical capital, as it
formerly was for around 400 years. Bishop Finn Wagle, County
Governor Kaare Gjoennes and all of Trondheim's leading
politicians stand behind this call. They intend to re-
establish the fact that the Nidaros Cathedral is Norway's
historical spiritual centre. They feel the Bishop of Nidaros
should be the "preces", or foremost bishop, of the Church of
Norway. At present it is the Bishop of Oslo that enjoys pre-
eminence in the college of bishops.
WORTH NOTING:
- The Nordic ministers of justice are meeting in Oslo today to
discuss the Schengen accord and other matters. The chances of
maintaining the Nordic passport union in its present form are
small, though this does not necessarily mean that passport
control will be strict.
- The eating habits of pregnant women will be studied closely
to identify any connection between nutrition and complications
during pregnancy. 3,000 pregnant women will take part in the
study.
- Five or six youths apprehended for vandalizing the Vigeland
sculptures "Sinnatagen" and the Monolith, risk imprisonment
for defacing national monuments. The maximum sentence is four
years in prison.
- Sales of new cars in January rose nearly 20 per cent over
the same period last year.
- The Palace confirmed yesterday that the jewels stolen from
Garrard's in London on Sunday were the property of Queen
Sonja. Among the stolen jewels was a pearl and diamond tiara
that had been a wedding gift to Queen Maud, grandmother of
King Harald.
- The Palace is in need of complete refurbishing, at a cost to
the Norwegian state of NOK 151 million. The attic is the only
part of the palace that will escape the hammer and paintbrush.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
The future of the Nordic passport union is the main item of
business at today's meeting of the Nordic ministers of justice
in Oslo. Norwegian Minister of Justice Grete Faremo will ask
the other Nordic countries to help prevent dismantling of the
30 year old passport cooperation arrangement in consequence of
the differences in EU affiliations. Little attention was paid
to the eventuality of a reintroduction of intra-Nordic
passport requirements during the EU membership debate.
Advocates of EU membership referred to practical problems in
international relations in the event that the EU's external
border should fall between Sweden and Norway. "Things will
work out," was the general reaction. And indeed, continuation
of the Nordic passport cooperation should and must be worked
out, though this issue goes to show that being an outsider
among EU countries is not easy. (Arbeiderbladet)
DATE: 8 February 1995
FAREMO ANGERS CENTRE (Aftenposten)
Minister of Justice Grete Faremo indicated yesterday that in
order to prevent introduction of passport requirements between
Nordic countries, Norway is prepared to act as the EU's border
guard and, if necessary, to sign a special agreement to this
effect. The cause of the Centre Party's anger is that under
this arrangement, random checks for drugs would be prohibited.
This was a major issue for opponents of EU membership during
last year's referendum campaign, and Centre parliamentary
leader Johan J. Jakobsen makes it perfectly clear that his
party was quite serious in cautioning against a Europe with no
internal border controls and no possibility for random
inspections. The Centre Party's dilemma is that Norway may
have to choose between adopting the provisions of the Schengen
accord on border controls, or maintaining the Nordic passport
union, which all Nordic political parties, including the
Centre, support. Mr. Jakobsen says this would be a difficult
choice for Norway, as well as a problem for the Centre Party.
He would not state how the Centre Party should stand if and
when this choice is presented.
NO TIME FOR NORWAY'S PROBLEMS IN THE EU (Aftenposten)
The EU is not using undue haste in finding solutions to the
customs problems encountered by Norway since Sweden, Finland
and Austria joined the EU. Minister of Trade and Shipping
Grete Knudsen tried to prod European Commission yesterday, but
she eventually had to concede that the Commission is not
giving Norway's problems high priority. "We feel it is taking
too long to get started on the negotiations on export problems
for Norwegian fish, among other things. The EU countries are
apparently confronted with so many major issues at the moment
that attention is being diverted away from Norway," said Ms.
Knudsen diplomatically.
VOTING ABROAD MAY SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST (Vaart Land)
Norwegian citizens residing abroad may vote in local and
county elections, general elections and referenda, but the
local elections coming up this autumn may be the last time
citizens residing abroad will have the opportunity to cast
absentee ballots. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Local Government and Labour are in the process of
assessing the costs of holding elections abroad. Both
ministries feel the expense is too high and that comparatively
few take part. In their work on new elections legislation, the
ministries question the absentee ballot arrangements abroad,
though no amendment to this effect has yet been drafted.
DnB REJECTS GOVERNMENT DEMANDS (Aftenposten)
The board of directors of Den norske Bank will vote next
Monday to recommend payment of "normal dividends" to the
shareholders. The Norwegian government, which is the bank's
main shareholder, is demanding half of last year's profits in
dividends. The directors point out that the Companies Act
accords the board the sole right to propose amounts paid out
in dividends. The board will submit its dividend proposal on
Wednesday, but it will be much less than the two kroner per
share demanded by the government. For Finance Minister
Sigbjoern Johnsen to get his way, he will have to dismiss the
board at the next meeting of shareholders. DnB is not alone,
though - Kreditkassen is in the same situation.
WORTH NOTING:
- British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Douglas Hurd
said in Oslo yesterday that the UK would like to keep Norway
integrated as closely as possible with the EU.
- The Norwegian Organization for Asylum-Seekers (NOAS)
supports the government view that it is safe to send Tamils
whose applications have been turned down back to Sri Lanka.
- Government revenues from value-added taxes, investment taxes
and motor vehicle taxes alone swelled by over NOK 10 billion
from 1993 to 1994.
- SAS is heading for a record surplus. Interim figures for
1994 indicate profits of SEK 1.5 billion.
- Palestinian hijacker Souhaila Andrawes could have been under
suspicion of attempted murder, but prosecution is barred by
lapse of time, in the view of the examining court. The court
yesterday rejected one of five counts in the charges forming
the basis of the German extradition request.
- According to Verdens Gang's sources, Norwegian authorities
are now investigating claims that one of the three Iranian
hijackers extradited to Russia recently was raped or subjected
to attempted rape in prison.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
The Nordic ministers of justice employed one of the most
overused tactics of all in responding to the threat to Nordic
cooperation: they appointed a Nordic committee of officials to
study the matter. The most concrete product of Nordic
cooperation - the Nordic passport union and open borders among
the Nordic countries - is in grave peril after nearly forty
years of existence. One does not need a long and detailed
report to realize that Norway and Iceland have no choice but
to accede to the Schengen accord, such as it is. Since these
two countries are not EU states, their inclusion will have to
be arranged through some sort of associative measure. If this
is acceptable to the signatory countries, citizens of Nordic
countries will still be able to travel in Scandinavia without
passports. In return, though, Norway and Iceland will have to
maintain external border controls for the EU. The Norwegian
Government at least is willing to go along with this. Just as
with the EEA Agreement, we will participate in a cooperation
arrangement in which we accept the decisions of others with
little opportunity to exert influence ourselves. (Dagbladet)
DATE: 9 February 1995
NATO MANOEUVRES IN FINNMARK? (Dagbladet)
"It is now time to take a new look at the restrictions we have
taken upon ourselves in our defence policy. One thing we need
to reassess is the matter of military exercises with foreign
troops in northern Norway." State Secretary Sigve Brekke of
the Ministry of Defence is now in Washington to discuss an
expansion of Norwegian military cooperation with the US. Mr.
Brekke's statements signify a shift in fundamental principles
of Norwegian defence policy, and that Allied exercises may be
held right up to the Russian border. The US has given a
positive response to a Norwegian invitation to reexamine
Norwegian-US defence cooperation. The US now wants to hear
what we've got to offer since they indicated their wish last
year to cut down on military assistance earmarked for Norway.
BUSINESS LOOKING FOR EU REMATCH (Aftenposten)
The Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO)
does not intend lose the next EU playoff. The NHO
administration proposes to contribute NOK 2 million to the
European Movement in Norway. "We must keep up our strength
without binding ourselves to a specific revival date for the
EU membership issue," says NHO president Didrik Schnitler. The
NHO has compiled a 60 page evaluation of the EU campaign which
will be discussed by the executive board on 15 February.
ANTI-EU LABOUR PEOPLE WORN OUT (Arbeiderbladet)
The EU campaign took so much out of Labour opponents to EU
membership that they don't have the strength to work on
important issues in preparation for the upcoming Labour
national convention this weekend. "I feel completely
exhausted," says Halvard Bakke, leader of the Social Democrats
against the EU (SME). He has no plans for pursuing what he
feels is a significant departure by the Labour Party
leadership and the Labour Government from the national
convention resolution from 1992 calling for a special jobs
creation budget.
SME FUNDS SIDETRACKED (Verdens Gang)
Inadequate finances and financial management failures in "No
to the EU" have also caused problems for the Social Democrats
against the EU (SME). The SME is NOK 500,000 - 600,000 in the
red because "No to the EU" has withheld the SME's share of a
contribution from the Farmers' Union and the Raw Fish
Association. "The contribution was sent to "No to the EU", but
we never received our share. This is quite regrettable," says
SME leader Hallvard Bakke. "We cannot transfer funds to the
SME in disregard for our other creditors. We have had a
dialogue with the SME, but I do not know the outcome," says
acting Secretary General Leif Hjulstad of "No to the EU".
UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE CRITICIZES JOHNSEN (Aftenposten)
The Office of the Auditor General has uncovered a number of
blameworthy factors in the administration of government funds
running in the billions of kroner. The Stortinget's standing
committee on Scrutiny and the Constitution criticizes Finance
Minister Sigbjoern Johnsen for inadequate control over funds
provided through government grants. All parties represented on
the committee, including the Labour representative, want
control over these funds to be stepped up, and they feel Mr.
Johnsen has been too slow in dealing with the problem.
NO SUPPORT FOR HUGE GOVERNMENT DIVIDENDS (Dagens Naeringsliv)
Finance Minister Sigbjoern Johnsen will get no support from
the Storting if he tries to compel Den norske Bank (DnB) and
the Kreditkassen to pay higher dividends than the banks'
boards of directors have determined. "The Government's demand
that the DnB and Kreditkassen pay out 50 per cent of their
profits in dividends could lend legitimacy to the taking of
higher dividends from private companies as well," says Eilef
A. Meland (Soc. Left). The Conservatives, Progress and the
Centre parties all deplore Mr. Johnsen's treatment of the DnB
and Kreditkassen.
WORTH NOTING:
- According to a poll taken by Statistics Norway and the
universities of Trondheim and Oslo, 24 per cent of opponents
to EU membership would like to have seen the European Movement
in Norway banned. And most advocates of EU membership would
have preferred that newspapers did not print articles and
letters opposing membership.
- It is impossible to determine whether or not Norwegian
government funding for a number of environmental objectives
conforms to the provisions of the EEA Agreement. This is the
conclusion of a thorough study by the EFTA Surveillance
Authority (ESA). The ESA has requested the Norwegian
Government to draw up a new set of regulations which will make
verification possible.
- All vessels over 500 gross tons carrying hazardous or
polluting cargo will now be required to have a pilot aboard,
according to the new regulations on compulsory pilotage and
navigation in Norwegian coastal waters which go into effect on
1 May.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
The crisis in the banking industry is over. Profits for 1994
are expected to be very high, credit losses appear to be under
control and the banks are clearly being managed more skilfully
than before. Some trimming has taken place, which was both
necessary and healthy, and the biggest banks had to be bailed
out by the government. Billions of kroner in public funds were
pumped in to keep the Norwegian finance market from
collapsing, an event which would also have spelled disaster
for the individual bank client. The most important reason why
the government should not try to claim sky-high dividends now
concerns the improper signals this action would send out to
the business community. There has been a clear tendency in
recent years for owners to increase their dividends - in many
cases going so far that equity capital has been depleted. This
problem took on new proportions particularly after dividend
income became exempt from taxation. If the government sets a
bad example now, it will be impossible to prevent others from
doing the same. The resulting trend would be much more
damaging than the loss of dividends the government had
intended to take from the banks. (Dagbladet)
DATE: 10 February 1995
NEARLY NOK 100 MILLION IN NORWEGIAN ARMS SALES TO TURKEY
(Arbeiderbladet/NTB)
Norway has sold between NOK 80 and 100 million worth of
weapons parts and ammunition to Turkey over the past three
years. Senior Information Officer Arthur B. Knutsen at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that this is no more
than what Minister of Trade and Shipping Grete Knudsen has
indicated. Sales of tank turrets alone amounted to NOK 79
million. Bombs, shells, torpedoes and mines represent an
additional NOK 3 million, together with classified sales of
military explosives from Dyno Industries. A united opposition
in the Storting criticizes the Government on the basis of the
documentation reported in Arbeiderbladet, demanding an
explanation from Ms. Knudsen as to why the situation outlined
by her differs so greatly from the picture that is now
emerging. Mr. Knutsen absolutely denies any failure in the
Foreign Ministry's information responsibility in this matter.
NO NATO EXERCISES IN FINNMARK (Dagbladet)
Minister of Defence Joergen Kosmo states categorically that no
military exercises will be held in Finnmark, thus reversing
yesterday's statements by his own state secretary, Sigve
Brekke. "NATO manoeuvres in Finnmark are out of the question.
We will continue to keep a low profile in this area. I think
this is quite sensible in light of our efforts to maintain an
atmosphere of trust. We have no intention of dropping our
self-imposed restrictions against military exercises in this
part of the country. We will, however, conduct open manoeuvres
in the area in training for UN operations under the
Partnership for Peace programme. I cannot rule out the
possibility of future cooperation with the Russians in dealing
with disasters in the Barents Sea as well. It is a long way
from these activities to NATO manoeuvres, however," says Mr.
Kosmo.
SIGNIFICANT LABOUR LOSSES (Aftenposten)
The Labour Party has dropped sharply from its record ratings
in the aftermath of the EU referendum, and is now down to 40.9
per cent in Opinion's February poll. This is a 3.2 point loss
since the previous survey. The Centre Party is holding its
ground at 15.4 per cent. There is some movement on the right,
with the Progress Party advancing 2.2 points to 6.2 per cent
and the Conservatives dropping from 17.3 per cent in January
to 16.5 per cent.
DEMAND FOR FROeNSDAL'S SUSPENSION (Dagens Naeringsliv)
Jon R. Gundersen, the lawyer representing Erik Jarve's
children, demands the suspension of acting Stock Exchange
Director Kjell Froensdal. It is Mr. Gundersen's opinion that
statements by Mr. Froensdal have given rise to rumours in the
Jarve affair, and has called for an investigation of his
conduct by an independent body. Mr. Gundersen points out that
the Oslo Stock Exchange on several occasions has provided
erroneous information on the facts of the case, and that the
ensuing speculation has been a heavy burden on Erik Jarve's
survivors.
OPPOSITION TO SLOVAKIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT? (Aftenposten)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bjoern Tore Godal is in a
quandary. Should he support or oppose construction of a
nuclear power plant in Slovakia? The European Bank of
Redevelopment (EBRD) wishes to loan NOK 1.7 billion for a
nuclear power plant in Slovakia. According to Aftenposten's
sources, officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
recommend that Norway refrains from voting when the EBRD's
governing board considers the project in March. Press
spokesman Ingvard Havnen in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
says that no decision has yet been taken, however.
WORTH NOTING:
- Yesterday's summit meeting between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser
Arafat was unsuccessful, and Terje Roed Larsen was called in
to a meeting with the PLO chairman. There is an intense effort
now under way to salvage the Oslo Accord and the Middle East
peace process.
- Record low interest rates will soon be here again. After the
turbulence and interest rate hikes of the pre-EU referendum
period last year, new trends are now crystallizing. Den norske
Bank lowered mortgage rates 0.5 per cent.
- The Conservative Party's new alcohol policy: private wine
sales, sales of wine in rural districts on commission from the
Wine and Spirits Monopoly, and no limit on the number of
retail outlets.
- Norwegian State Railway (NSB) Managing Director Kristian
Rambjoer is willing to reconsider NSB cutbacks if the
Norwegian Union of Railwaymen can come up with other ways to
reduce costs.
- The day before Labour's national convention, Hallvard Bakke,
leader of the Social Democrats against the EU (SME) and one of
Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland's strongest critics
inside the Labour Party, has announced that he will withdraw
from national politics at the next general election in 1997.
TODAY'S COMMENT:
Although the proposal to move the seat of the Church of Norway
to Trondheim undoubtedly contains an element of nostalgia,
simply disregarding the suggestion of moving as mere
romanticism is too easy. The proposal also has its political
and practical aspects as well, and it is certain to prompt a
ritual debate on localization. The real challenge inherent in
the suggestion, however, is to reflect on the form the Church
of Norway's role in society should take. The year in which we
will be observing the thousand-year anniversary of the
Christianizing of Norway should provide the proper backdrop
for a debate of this nature. (Vaart Land)