Society & Policy

“Norway is concerned about developments in East Jerusalem. The Palestinian population is subject to ever-increasing pressure,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. Read more

Norway’s Foreign Minister welcomes election of Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland to Council of Europe top position The President of the Norwegian Storting (Norwegian parliament) and the Norwegian Nobel Committee was today elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe by the organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly. “On behalf of the government I wish to congratulate Mr. Jagland and thank both the members... Read more

The donor group for the Palestinian Authority (AHLC) today welcomed the political program of the Palestinian government for establishing a Palestinian state within the next two years. This plan will be an important platform for donor coordination with Palestinian authorities aimed at sustainable economic development and building the institutions of the future Palestinian state. Read more

Norway urges the parties in Sudan to respect the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to redraw the boundaries of the important oil region Abyei.  

• Norwegian musicians "in harmony" with Cairo Symphony Orchestra

In his opening address to the AHLC meeting in Oslo June 8 Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre underlined that the Palestinian economy will not be sustainable until there is a political solution to the conflict. The AHLC’s main mission has been – and is – to help to keep the wheels turning in support of the political track in the interim. The mission of the AHLC can only be eff... Read more

Norway has been elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council together with the US. Read more

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre attended United Nations Durban Review Conference in Geneva 20 -24 April. The minister in his speech dealt with the controversial stands taken by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which had led several of the participants to walk out. Minister Støre emphasized that those who defend freedom of expression should not opt for non-attend... Read more

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre participated in the recent Arab League summit in Doha, Qatar. He was invited in his capacity as Chair of the international donor group for Palestinians (AHLC) and addressed the opening session March 30. The speech is published in English. Read more

Norway co-chaired The International Conference in Support for the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza 2 March 2009. Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre delivered a speech asking for the Palestinian Authority to be placed at the centre of the international community's efforts. Read more

Egypt has invited to Norway to co-chair the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza, scheduled to take place in Sharm el-Sheikh on March 2nd. Read more

Norway and the EU are joining forces to boost investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in developing countries. Read more

The Government has decided to allocate NOK 1 billion to promote education for girls through UNICEF’s work on supporting Education for All in developing countries.  The announcement was made on 23 September by Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim at a high-level event arranged by UNESCO in New York. Read more

The first annual Trygve Lie Symposium on Fundamental Freedoms will take place in New York on Thursday 25 September. Read more

Norway is hosting an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers from 26 to 27 April 2007. Read more

An increasing number of Norwegian fathers are choosing to take paternity leave to be with their children during their first year. Parents now have the right to choose how the parental leave period is divided between them. Read more

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to lead a panel that aims to strengthen the UN's work in the world's poorest countries. Read more