Friday, October 2, 2026
Africa and Norway

Kenya delegation in Oslo on meeting to end death penalty

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

width_650.height_300.mode_FillAreaWithCrop.pos_Default.color_WhiteA Kenyan delegation is in Oslo, Norway to attend the 6th World Congress against the Death Penalty.

The three day Congress, starting Tuesday, seeks to assist countries develop new strategies for universal abolition of the death penalty.

This year’s theme is Abolition Now! The Kenyan delegation, under the leadership of the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC), is expected to present the Kenya position on the ongoing global debate on the death penalty.

POMAC is mandated to advice the President of the Republic of Kenya on the exercise of the power of mercy. It is a nine member Committee that includes the Attorney General, who is the Committee’s chairperson, the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Correctional Services, and seven professional part time members.

Michael Kagika the POMAC secretary and Gerald Wandera a director with the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) are leading the Kenyan delegation into the meeting.

The annual event, now in its 5th year running, brings together Government Representatives, Members of the Civil Society, Political Representatives, Lawyers, media, and other key stakeholders keen on raising awareness on the death penalty.

The Power of Mercy Advisory Committee was established through Article 133 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

Since its inception on Nov 1, 2011, 4,500 death row inmates have so far benefitted from the Power of Mercy after having their death sentences commuted into life. In addition to the constitutional mandate, The Power of Mercy Act, 2011 assigns the Committee with functions that support its work including to undertake or commission research and to collect data on matters relating to the power of mercy.

Currently, POMAC in partnership with the National Crime Research Centre is conducting a National Public debate to solicit views from the general public, on the subject of capital offences and capital punishment.

The objective of the debate is to provide an open dialogue on what Kenyans want in regard to the handling of capital offenders and the management of capital offences.

(standardmedia)

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Russia and Norway

Norwegian – Russian cooperation in the north

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

hattrem-udState Secretary Tore Hattrem’s speech at the 200th anniversary of the Office of the Auditor General of Norway.
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here today for the 200th anniversary of the Office of the Auditor General of Norway.

The Office of the Auditor General is an important institution.

With its strong focus on transparency and accountability in public spending and performance, it plays an important role in building trust and contributes to good governance and democracy.

It is therefore very positive that the Office of the Auditor General cooperates with its sister organisations in other countries, many of which, I am aware, are present here today.

Conducting joint audits is one of the ways in which the Auditor General of Norway has cooperated, very successfully I must say, with its partners in the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Over the last ten years, my ministry has been among the subjects of three such audits: on nuclear safety, on joint fisheries management, and on the Arctic Council.

These topics are all of great importance to both Norway and Russia. They reflect our shared commitment to sustainable, knowledge-based management of Arctic resources, based on the principles of international cooperation.

And these are the topics I am here to talk to you about today: the Arctic and our cooperation with Russia, with particular focus on the practical value of the joint audits of nuclear safety, fisheries management and the Arctic Council.

Let me start with a few words about why the Arctic is Norway’s most important foreign policy priority.
The Arctic – Norway’s most important foreign policy priority

We know that the Arctic is a region abundant with resources such as energy, minerals and fish. At the same time, the Arctic is a highly vulnerable natural environment, where the impacts of climate change can be clearly observed.

Climate change represents a challenge for us all, but it is also opening up new opportunities for economic activity in the Arctic. The potential for shorter trading routes across Arctic waters is currently being explored, as well as new possibilities for resource extraction.

To seize these opportunities while ensuring sustainable development of the Arctic, we need increased knowledge, responsible management and international cooperation.

Norway i cooperating closely with other countries and various organisations on how to ensure sustainable development of the region.

Today, the Arctic stands out as a region of cooperation and stability.

The overall goal of Norway’s Arctic policy is to ensure that it stays that way.

Norwegian–Russian cooperation in the Arctic – bilateral and regional cooperation

Norway has a long history of constructive neighbourly cooperation with Russia in the north.As early as 1974, we established the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission together with our Russian partners.

During the 1990s, our region saw the start of new forms of cooperation, such as the Council of the Baltic Sea States in 1992, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in 1993, the Arctic Council in 1996 and the EU Northern Dimension in 1997.

All these structures have built confidence and enhanced integration in our region.

Significantly, Russia has been – and continues to be – an important partner in all these forums.

Results – examples of successful Norwegian–Russian cooperation in fields of common interest
Norway and Russia have identified a broad range of areas where cooperation is mutually beneficial and yields results.

The most important areas at the government level are: management of shared fish stocks, environmental protection, nuclear safety, maritime safety including search and rescue at sea, as well as Coast Guard and Border Guard activities more broadly.

This, along with the joint efforts of civil society organizations and the informal people-to-people contact in the north, have contributed much to facilitating and simplifying cross-border cooperation and strengthening the bonds between our two countries.

Pressing challenges in the Arctic, such as environmental degradation and sustainable management of shared resources, can only be solved in cooperation with Russia and the other Arctic states.

I am therefore very pleased that the Office of the Auditor General of Norway and their Russian partners decided to jointly audit key areas where our countries cooperate closely, namely nuclear safety, fisheries management and the

Arctic Council.

They are all vital for a sustainable future in the Arctic.

Let me say a few words about each of these areas.

Nuclear safety

Nuclear safety cooperation with Russia is a priority for this Government, and our activities are based on the Government’s nuclear action plan.

And it is a success story – as was confirmed in September last year when we established common procedures for notification of nuclear incidents.

Today we have transparency in nuclear issues and safety assessments that would have been unthinkable 20 years ago.

Trust and confidence have been built through this work, with ripple effects that go far beyond reducing nuclear challenges. Not least, the Norwegian–Russian collaboration has produced concrete and measurable results that have made life safer for the people on both sides of the border for the last 20 years. During this period, we have allocated 230 million Euros to projects in northwestern Russia, which have produced very good results.

Together we have reduced the threats from one of the world’s largest stocks of poorly secured fissile material. These efforts are ongoing, and in 2017 we will start removing spent fuels from 100 nuclear submarine reactors in Andreeva Bay, the former nuclear submarine service base for Russia’s Northern Fleet.

We have dismantled five nuclear submarines and have removed and secured highly radioactive sources from 251 lighthouses. We have also upgraded the Kola and Leningrad nuclear power plants. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of safety related incidents at these plants in recent years.

Another area of crucial importance is investigating sunken nuclear submarines. We have carried out successful expeditions to sunken nuclear submarines in Arctic waters in 2012 and 2014. The preliminary conclusion was that radioactive contamination in the area was low.

We were glad that the joint audit reports on nuclear cooperation confirmed the effectiveness of these efforts and showed that our cooperation has contributed to a safer world.

The insights we gain and the expertise we develop through this work put us in a much better position to handle any undesirable situations that might arise.

This is not least due to the good contact we have developed with the Russian authorities.

We will keep up the good work in the time ahead.

Joint fisheries management

Joint fisheries management is another area where Norway and Russia have cooperated closely with excellent results. We have achieved sustainable and efficient management of a number of shared fish stocks in the Barents Sea.

Back in 1989, the Northeast Arctic cod stock was at an all-time low.

Today, we enjoy the world’s most abundant cod stock in the Barents Sea. This year, for example, we shared a quota of 894 000 tonnes.

This development would not have been possible without the close and constructive fisheries cooperation with Russia that we have developed over the years.

It is also positive to see how our cooperation in the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission is progressing and expanding, for example on a new species, the snow crab.

Robust mechanisms for cooperation are crucial if we are to harvest our shared marine resources in the Arctic in a sustainable manner.

Our joint fisheries management stands out as a prime example of the benefits of cross boarder cooperation on sustainable management.

Arctic Council

As we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Office of the Auditor General of Norway, it is worth noting that this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council is the most important forum for multilateral cooperation in the Arctic. It plays a vital role in preserving the Arctic as a region of peaceful collaboration.

It is also a forum where Norway and Russia collaborate closely on a wide variety of topics.

Moreover, the work of the Arctic Council is producing tangible results.

Its comprehensive reports and studies of climate change in the Arctic have highlighted the speed at which climate change is taking place.

This has had substantial impact on international climate negotiations.

Last month, for example, the Executive Secretary of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ms Christiana Figueres, noted the significant contribution of the Arctic Council to the science of climate change, stating that the historical Paris agreement of December last year would not have been possible without the Council’s contribution.

The joint audits

The joint audits of issues that reach well into our respective national administrations is a testimony to the extent and depth of Norwegian–Russian cooperation.

On a general level, I think it must be appropriate to say that the audits have contributed to increased transparency and accountability.

The joint audits have also been a very useful tool for the whole government administration. We have gained greater awareness of how we are working with nuclear safety, joint fisheries management and the Arctic Council.

The joint audits have forced us – in a systematic and positive way I should add – to see our work through the eyes of others. This is always a useful exercise. And doing so with the help of an institution that has 200 years of experience is particularly valuable.

I think it is right to say that the Norwegian Government is now working more systematically in its preparations for and the follow up of efforts under the Arctic Council.

The joint audit of the Arctic Council has also increased awareness among the Arctic states of the Arctic Council’s structure.

As a result, the need for a more strategic approach is now being discussed in the Arctic Council. The Arctic states have also initiated a discussion about whether the current set-up of the Council will enable us to meet the priorities of the Arctic states in the best possible way in the future. All these discussions are inspired by issues raised by the audit institutions.

Conclusion

Before concluding, let me just reiterate that the Arctic is a region of stability and predictability, and that it is the Government’s overall goal that it remains this way.

The work of the Auditor Generals has improved our cooperation on nuclear safety, fisheries management and the Arctic Council in many practical ways.

The joint audits by our respective Auditor Generals are also an important contribution to the ongoing peaceful cooperation between Norway and Russia in the north.

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Defence

Norway reveals P-3 replacement plans

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

yourfileNorway has revealed a proposed defence spending plan that allows for the acquisition of a new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to replace its six-strong fleet of Lockheed P-3 Orions.

Presented to parliament on 17 June, the white paper recommends a gradual rise in the nation’s defence budget over the 2017-2020 period to result in a NKr7.2 billion ($870 million) increase over 2016 levels.

A “substantial increase” of NKr165 billion is planned over the next 20 years to support a number of acquisitions, and is designed to counter previous under-investment and Russia’s rising threat.

“Years of underfunding, combined with a high operational tempo have also created shortfalls in training, maintenance and upgrades that are no longer acceptable in the face of emerging challenges,” the paper says. These must be addressed in order to improve short-term capabilities, and to prepare Norway for any future investments and challenges, it says.

“Norway will seek to replace its maritime patrol aircraft after the ageing P-3C Orion is withdrawn from service,” the ministry of defence says. “A credible defence posture relies heavily on situational awareness, intelligence and an ability to conduct crisis management.

“Maritime patrol aircraft are essential in this context, and the government will introduce a plan for the replacement of the P-3 Orion to the Norwegian parliament in due course.”

Potential candidates include the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, or modified transport aircraft including the Lockheed Martin C-130J Sea Hercules and Airbus Defence & Space C295.

In addition, Oslo has reiterated its commitment to a 52-unit acquisition of the Lockheed F-35.

“One such capability [being acquired] is the F-35 Lightning II with a weapons suite that includes the Norwegian-developed Joint Strike Missile,” the paper says. “The acquisition of up to 52 aircraft with all the necessary equipment and infrastructure will be an essential contribution to Norwegian and allied security.”

In order to make savings, a number of military facilities will be closed, including Andøya air station, home to the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s 333 Sqn, which operates the P-3s.

The new MPA will therefore be co-located with the F-35s at Evenes air station, the paper says.

“While every new generation of equipment and technology allows us to do much more than the previous one, that added capability comes at a price,” Ine Eriksen Søreide, Norwegian defence minister adds. “We can no longer accommodate that trend simply by buying fewer platforms or by internal efficiency savings.

“We cannot have security without sustainability. This plan aims to provide both.”

Following this initial phase, an additional funding increase is planned for 2021-2026, the defence ministry says, which will ensure the implementation of new investment programmes.

(flightglobal)

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Environment

Norway And The US Sign An Agreement In Violation Of The Rio Declaration

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

US-AirwaysThe United States and Norway this week announced (1) they would offset the greenhouse gas emissions from their aviation industry by buying voluntary emission reduction credits from reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in tropical forests. The plan would violate the Rio Declaration in two ways.

The Declaration says that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

By continuing to emit greenhouse gases from their aviation industry, Norway and the US are damaging the environment of other countries that are suffering temperature rise due to climate change. This is the first violation. And by planning to buy voluntary emission reduction credits from developing countries they are depriving those countries of the sovereign right to exploit their own resources, and are violating the Declaration a second time.

The joint statement by the Governments of Norway and the United States claims the plan is being made under the Paris Agreement. In fact neither Norway nor the US have signed yet. Only 17 out of 197 countries have signed that Agreement so far, and the emissions of those who have ratified cover just 0.4% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.

Still, this does not stop the US and Norway claiming “Together, our efforts aim to help securing the multiple benefits forests provide for local communities, and for humanity as a whole.”

This humanity-as-a-whole talk is of course precisely what the Rio Declaration and the three Rio treaties were designed to outlaw. In international law there is no humanity as a whole, just like there is no global benefit. But western countries have not taken a blind scrap of notice.

Norway and the United States call their plan a form of support to developing countries to adopt a Global Market Based Measure that will in turn enable carbon neutral growth in international aviation from 2020.

Do these countries really believe that such a measure for aviation could catalyze incentives for reduced deforestation through demand for large-scale forest emissions reductions? Currently one tonne of carbon dioxide is trading at around 50 cents. They themselves have their doubts. They admit that their proposed International Civil Aviation Organisation’s emissions unit program will have to reflect relevant developments in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Haha. Could those developments possibly involve a refusal of the Group of 77 and China countries to participate in this farce?

Nonetheless, Norway and the US consider it worth a try.

Everyone and their uncle know by now that “offsetting” is a hilarious non-thing. It is a no-thing. Someone pollutes, and then claims they are paying for someone else to soak up the pollution. But if that person who is polluting were to stop polluting there would be twice as much benefit. There would be the avoided pollution in the western country on the western country’s tab and the sequestration in the developing country for the developing country’s benefit done by that country at their own cost and for their own advantage. So emission offsetting in the absence of legally binding emission reductions for both parties is no offset at all, rather there is a halving of the potential climate mitigation. If the Clean Development Mechanism experience is anything to go by, the developed countries will not be setting tough legally binding caps on greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement. Therefore there is an abundance of emissions they will permitting themselves to make, and there will not be an incentive to pay high prices for verified emissions reductions. Thus even on their own terms their plan to reduce emissions and enhance sinks by stealing other people’s resources will be ineffective because the prices will be too low to attract even the most corrupt dictator.

They further state that “forests may contribute up to one-third of the pre-2030 mitigation.” Yes, but for whom? There is no such thing as “global climate neutrality in the second half of this century”. The whole purpose of the Rio Summit was to ensure that States use their own resources for their own benefit and also avoid damage to other States.

Finally Norway and the US claim the offset arrangement will allow the western public to keep flying in order to contribute to a world where “economic growth and food security benefit from, and support, efforts to conserve and restore natural forests and reduce land-based emissions.” What a ridiculous elision of economic growth and food security into a single unity! The sentence is completely meaningless. Like much of environmental talk by western governments the phrase is a string of words held together by commas and a full stop.

Equally no one should hold their breath for these countries to enhance sinks on their own lands. The whole emphasis is on ”helping partners attract additional support for their efforts, including from the private sector.” It’s always used to be the developing countries that had to clean up the shit of western civilization. But not anymore. And now those western countries are imploding precisely because no one is giving them our resources anymore, and they sure cannot manage without them.

Anandi Sharan is an environmental historian and blogger based in Bangalore. She specialises in the global environmental treaties, especially the conventions on climate change and biodiversity. She currently serves as a Board member of the CBD Alliance, a global civil society platform. She can be contacted at sharan.anandi@gmail.com
References:

(1) http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/06/258502.htm

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Economics

Ofgem approves a 354-mile power cable from UK to Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

article0The UK energy regulator has granted a licence to a Norwegian consortium that plans to build a 345-mile power cable to bring renewable hydro power into Britain.

The NorthConnect project cleared its first hurdle on Tuesday after Ofgem granted an electricity interconnector licence to the developers, paving the way for the project to begin navigating a set of complex regulatory rules governing electricity transmission in Europe.

NorthConnect aims to transport Norway’s abundant hydro-power reserves in the south west of the country through a high voltage 1.4GW subsea cable to a substation at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. Under current plans the project will begin powering homes by 2022.

There are currently four interconnectors to mainland UK, from France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a combined capacity of 4GW. But ministers have said they would support a further 9GW of new interconnectors to help to improve security of supply by giving the UK access to power generated elsewhere.

NorthConnect says its power link could help the UK meet its renewable energy targets while providing extra capacity when domestic sources are stretched due to low wind speeds or unplanned outages at conventional power plants.

It could also allow the UK to export excess power at times of strong wind power output when demand is low, such as overnight. The exported power could be used in Norway’s hydropower reservoirs, known as the ‘green battery’. The reservoir operators use electricity to pump water up into the dam when power is cheap and later run the water back out of the dam over a power generation turbine to release energy back into the grid when it is needed.

A spokesman for Ofgem said that the next step for the NorthConnect developers is to decide whether to opt in to Ofgem’s ‘cap and floor’ regime, which regulates how much they can make from the project and requires compliance with various European rules. The scheme guarantees a minimum return for the developers, even if power prices are low, by topping up their revenue through consumer funds. But it also caps how much money they could make by returning excess profits to customers.

Last week Ukrainian entrepreneur Alexander Temerko said he would build a 2GW power link to France but would forego the security of Ofgem’s regime by seeking an exemption from various UK and EU rules around access to infrastructure.

The NorthConnect project doubles the UK’s planned electricity links with Norway, following the NSN Link, which is being developed by National Grid and Norway’s transmission operator Statnet. The project received its Ofgem licence three years ago and is expected to begin operating a year before NorthConnect in 2021.

NSN will offer the same capacity as NorthConnect over a 447-mile subsea cable between Norway and Blyth in the North East of England, which would make it the longest electricity interconnector in the world.

Other planned interconnector projects to the UK include extra links to France and Ireland as well as new connections with Belgium and Denmark.

The four Norwegian companies developing NorthConnect are Vattenfall, Agder Energi, E-CO, Lyse.

(telegraph)

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Norwegian American

American author releases book on forgotten Norwegian Viking princess

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-21 at 23.03.28

American author Judith Martin has just released a picture book entitled “Saga of a Princess” about a forgotten Norwegian Viking princess named Efanda. Princess Efanda and her husband Prince Rurik founded the Rurikid dynasty in Russia during the Viking era.

Prince Rurik is often credited with the founding of the Russian nation by himself and a large monument was built to honor him in Novgorod, Russia. Efanda has not received any recognition, history has forgotten about her. The neglect of this brave Norwegian Viking princess who became the mother of the Russian state is what fueled Ms. Martin’s passion to write her picture book.

In the picture book, Prince Rurik is offered and accepts the throne of Novgorod, a city across the sea, but wants Princess Efanda to stay behind in Scandinavia. Efanda manages to sneak off and leaves for Novgorod. While on his way to Novgorod, Rurik runs into his wife and is shocked to know that she made the journey that he thought was too dangerous for her. In the end, Princess Efanda proves that she is just as brave and adventurous as her husband Prince Rurik.

Screen Shot 2016-06-21 at 23.12.48

Saga of a Princess is the second book in Ms. Martin’s Pantheon of Beauty series on beautiful and inspiring women from across the globe. Judith cites her love for fashion, geography and global cultures as the reason she writes her books. “I want to empower all the women and young girls of the world with each book,” said Judith.

Saga of a Princess is available for purchase at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. For more information on the book please visit www.sagaofaprincess.com. Additionally, Judith can be followed at www.facebook.com/sagaofaprincess
Contact Information:

Judith Martin
judith@thegoddessofbeauty.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBIndRFB2UQ

 

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Africa and Norway

Norway and South Africa co-operating on stopping illegal and unlawful fishing

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

fishing_in_SeychellesSouth Africa’s law enforcement efforts at sea, particularly as far as illegal fishing is concerned, have been boosted by Norway which is funding a fisheries law enforcement academy.

The academy is based at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth and will benefit from to the tune of R50 million over a five year period. The agreement was signed late last month by Norwegian ambassador Trine Skymoen and NMMU acting vice chancellor Dr Sibongile Muthwa during a Port Elizabeth conference on Operation Phakisa, government’s plan to tap into the blue economy and make it a bigger contributor to GDP as well as providing work.

Fishing crimes, which include illegal and unregulated fishing, as well as illegal harvesting of ocean produce and the trafficking of people, drugs and arms are some of the issues that will be tackled by the fisheries law enforcement academy, also known as FishFORCE.

The FishFORCE agreement is part of a broader partnership between Norway and South Africa developed in line with Operation Phakisa and the blue economy.

“Fisheries crime and the illegal harvesting, processing and trading of fish and seafood globally it is, in effect, a parallel economic system undermining sustainable economic growth,” Professor Hennie van As, director of NMMU’s Centre for Law in Action, is reported as saying at the official signing ceremony.

He also said FishFORCE’s main purpose was to combat sea fisheries crime and related criminal activities.

“We will be training fisheries control officers, police and prosecutors along the South African and east African coastlines as well as Namibia and plan to extend the training round the Indian Ocean rim to include countries like Indonesia.

Skymoen said sub-Saharan Africa was losing more than a billion US dollars to illegal and unregulated fishing. Illegal fisheries vessels, among others, under report catches and transfer catches from one vessel to another to escape official sanction as well as change flags to keep one step ahead of the authorities.

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NATO and Norway

NATO launches anti-submarine warfare exercise in Norwegian Sea

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Minister of Defence of Norway, Ine Eriksen Soreide on board of the frigate Aquitaine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Minister of Defence of Norway, Ine Eriksen Soreide on board of the frigate Aquitaine

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg marked the launch of NATO’s anti-submarine warfare exercise “Dynamic Mongoose” in a visit to Trondheim, Norway on Monday (20 June 2016). The exercise, focused on detecting and defending against submarines, runs for ten days. Joined by Norwegian Defence Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, Mr. Stoltenberg addressed sailors aboard the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen. Calling naval capabilities “as important as ever”, he noted that 70% of the earth is covered by water, and that 90% of world trade travels by sea. He stressed that NATO must be able to operate “on the sea, over the sea, and also under the sea.”

Three thousand sailors and aircrew from eight Allies (Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are participating in the exercise. Four submarines from Canada, Germany, Norway and the United States are taking part, along with nine surface ships and four maritime patrol aircraft. The exercise takes places in the Norwegian Sea, in an area measuring 14,000 square nautical miles.

During the exercise, submarines will have to transit from one point to another, while surface vessels try to track them down and simulate an attack. Surface units will also have to transit between two points while under submarine threat. This is the fourth time Exercise Dynamic Mongoose has been conducted; it previously took place in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

(Nato)

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Economics

Norwegian minister: ‘We have the same rights and duties as EU member states’

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Elisabeth-AspakerAlthough Norway is not an EU member, it has agreed on a voluntary contribution of €2.8 billion to promote economic and social cohesion in poorer Eastern European countries. “It’s a win-win situation,” explains Elisabeth Aspaker who adds: “It’s not a rule that we should get something back.”

Elisabeth Aspaker is Norway Minister for EEA and EU affairs.

Aspaker spoke to EurActiv.com’s Publisher and Editor, Frédéric Simon.

Norway recently sealed an agreement with the EU about grants it will offer to the least developed member states of the European Union. Why does Norway provide such grants? Is this an obligation under the EEA/EFTA treaties?

This is a voluntary contribution from Norway to support social and economic cohesion in Europe. It is linked to the EEA Agreement which include a common goal to work together to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. To this end, we have created the EEA and Norway Grants.

Europe is our most important market. Almost 75% of our exports go to the European market. So what’s good for Europe is good for Norway. This is why we have this kind of partnership with the EU.

There are 15 recipient countries, most of them from Eastern Europe, but also Portugal and the Baltic countries. This mirrors the EU Cohesion Fund criteria which means that Spain has been phased out for the coming financial period (2014-2021).

Since 1994, our contribution has added up to about 30 billion Norwegian Kroner (NOK) (€3.27bn). For the next period (2014-2021), it is almost 26 billion NOK (€2.8bn).

So it’s quite a lot of money and it has increased significantly over the last decade.

You said these are voluntary grants. What was the rationale when the decision was taken?

As I said, this is a win-win situation. If the EU member countries are doing well, this is good for Norway because we are close partners when it comes to the economy or security issues.

Norway is not an EU member state, as you know, but we participate fully in the internal market via the incorporation of EU legislation in the EEA Agreement. So, in that regard, we have the same rights and duties as EU member states.

This is not a legal obligation, but we contribute because it is in our interest. We share a responsibility towards countries that have a weaker economy than ours. We want to contribute to their economic and social development, so that the internal market can function as well as possible throughout the EEA.

Also, when you compare the political agendas in Norway and in the EU, you will find that they are very similar. It’s about dealing with migration, better regulation for the single market, energy union, climate and follow up after Paris, etc.

So these grants offer opportunities for Norway to have a good dialogue with the EU and at the same time enhancing cooperation. Our grants both supplement and complement the EU funding for these 15 countries.

Norway indeed contributes to specific areas of the EU budget, depending on whether or not it participates in programmes or agencies. So these grants come separately?

Yes, they are separate contributions that we negotiate individually with each recipient country via a Memorandum of Understanding. So Poland, for example, knows in advance how much money they will get. We sit down at the table with the Poles and discuss how we’re going to spend this money.

And we have three main priorities for Norway in the next period: 1) Innovation, research and education; 2) Environment, energy and climate change; and 3) Justice and home affairs, including asylum and migration policy. And then there are two other priorities – about social inclusion youth employment and poverty reduction; and about civil society, good governance, fundamental rights and freedom.

So the grants cover a wide range of topics. What’s important is to focus on the areas we have selected but obviously, there is a partner on the other side of the table so we have to agree on what will be the priority for each country.

It’s about give and take but if you sum up, the priorities are very much aligned with what the countries themselves have prioritised. So we will have discussions with the beneficiary countries within the next 6-9 months, and then we hope to have the MoUs agreed with 15 countries.

You mentioned energy as one area covered by the grants. Does this mean Norwegian companies will benefit indirectly from the grants by gaining a foothold in these countries?

It’s more about partnership. Many Norwegian businesses will be involved but also government institutions like the migration service in Norway which has a partnership with its Greek equivalent. It’s about Norwegian entities, NGOs and businesses finding partners in areas like transport, energy, education, research, etc. on some specific projects.

So you don’t have a metric to measure some kind of return on investment for these projects?

No, no – it’s not a rule that we should get something back. Partnerships can involve trade unions, municipalities, schools, etc. So we’re not just looking for business partners, it’s broader than that.

Would these grants be smaller or bigger if Norway decided to join the EU one day? I know it’s not on the agenda but still…

Well, this is clearly not on the agenda. Did you see the opinion polls? They are worse than ever! If the question of EU membership was being asked now, about 75% would vote ‘No’.

This is the third time we have negotiated these EEA and Norway grants and they have become something of a normality in our relation with the EU. It is in our interest to contribute. Having the EEA agreement and being part of the EU Internal Market is a cornerstone of Norwegian policy.

What about a country like Britain? If it decided to leave the EU, would it also benefit from having a similar arrangement with the EU, contributing to cohesion in poorer European countries?

I won’t speculate on the arrangements for Britain if the Leave camp wins. From the Norwegian side, we really hope they stay. Britain is an important partner for Norway in many respects and we need them inside the EU. There is certainly a need for more cooperation these days, not split-ups – whether we’re talking about migration, security or the economy.

The point I was trying to make is that Britain is having a fierce debate about how much it is getting back from EU membership. And here we have a wealthy country – Norway – which thinks it is in its own interest to contribute to the EU programmes and member states even though it is not a member. This would seem completely absurd to a Brit!

Going back to what I said earlier, we believe this is in our interest to improve social and economic cohesion in Europe. If Europe is doing well, Norway will also be doing well. If Europe is doing poorly or is destabilised, this will have a negative impact on Norway and the Norwegian economy. So this is why we believe we should involve ourselves beyond what is required under the EEA agreement.

The main beneficiary countries for these grants are Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which are all relatively far away from Norway. How much business does Norway make with these countries? Do the grants help expand business there?

Poland is a very important country when it comes to fish exports for example. I don’t have the figures for all the sectors but when it comes to energy, a lot of business is done with different European countries which may or may not be grant beneficiaries.

We don’t consider things in terms of ‘one kroner out, one kroner in for Norway’. But of course we consider these grants as a good investment and it encourages Norwegian businesses to look for opportunities outside Norway. And there are good examples that this has been a success.

Can you cite examples?

We have good examples in different sectors.

There is Tomra, a leading Norwegian company in recycling, which has been able to introduce their technologies in Poland and Romania through projects funded under the Grants. Another example is Stokke, a producer of children’s furniture and equipment, which has a Green Innovation programme in Romania. A Norwegian-Estonian partnership under the Grants is underway with commercialising ground-breaking technology for detecting oil spill at sea.

But remember, the aim of the grants is twofold, it shall also strengthen bilateral relations between donors and recipient countries.

Take Poland, where the EEA has generally served both Norwegian and Polish industry well. In Poland, they process large amounts of Norwegian salmon because the tariffs there are so much lower than in Norway, you can’t compete. So this is why you have such a huge salmon processing industry now in Poland.

One of the areas covered by the grants includes support in the area of justice and home affairs. Do you expect the contribution to slow down the flow of immigrants or refugees to Norway or other EU countries?

First of all, we want to continue the cooperation we have with the Greek government. It’s about sending experts and NGOs, providing equipment, reception centres, etc. The purpose is to establish well-functioning asylum systems through capacity building and making sure that the right to seek asylum is safeguarded. Probably there will be more countries in the next period that will benefit from these programmes. If these grants can help more countries take their share of refugees, it’s a good thing.

Is Norway itself taking part in the EU burden sharing agreement?

Yes we are, voluntarily. We are supporting the EU trust fund and we are very much aligned with the EU when it comes to the migration crisis.

How many refugees has Norway agreed to take?

We have agreed to take 3,500 Syrian refugees. 500 were offered resettlement in 2015, and the remaining 3,000 will be offered in 2016,

We are also taking part in the EU’s one-to-one agreement with Turkey on refugees and are involved in the EU’s efforts to stabilise countries where migrants come from.

In development aid cooperation?

Yes, we cooperate quite closely with the EU on humanitarian aid. Norway played a central role in the donor conference for Syria in London, we were present at the Valletta conference last year and we have two vessels in the Mediterranean Sea – one offshore vessel between Italy and Libya and a smaller vessel from a Norwegian NGO in Lesbos.

Norway is a member of the Schengen area for passport-free travel in Europe. In November last year, Oslo decided to reintroduce temporary controls at the border with other Schengen countries – namely Denmark, Sweden and Germany. When will these border controls be lifted?

We have aligned ourselves on this question with EU countries which have these kinds of border arrangements these days. On the EU side, there is now an additional 6-month period – until November – when there may be national border controls. In that period, I think we all hope that the external Schengen border control can be reinforced

Of course, we have this problem on the Northern border with Russia, which is our external border. Suddenly, there were 5,000 people coming! But that is now solved hopefully.

They were coming by bicycle, strangely enough.

Yes, because it’s prohibited – you cannot just walk through this border so you have to use something with wheels and they chose to use bicycles. But I think in the next half year, there will be a new discussion on whether the external border is sufficiently well monitored. And I think we all want to return to normal as soon as possible.

Some in Norway have been calling for your country to abandon its membership of the Schengen area altogether. Will this be inevitable? Some even within the EU say Schengen has already ceased to exist, effectively…

Only a small minority in Norway are saying we should leave Schengen. It’s obvious that there are many positives of being a member of Schengen. If you consider our border with Sweden for example, if that was an external border, it would cost a lot to monitor. And it’s also about as we as persons can move around Europe without using our passports. We’re used to doing so within the Nordic countries since the 1950’s. And when the other Nordic countries entered the EU and became members of Schengen, there was a discussion about Norway. And we could simply not miss out on the positives of being able to move around freely without a passport. So we agreed to be members of Schengen.

Then it’s also about our fish exports: if you leave Schengen, you need special arrangements for exports. And the number of border controls need to be as few as possible for our fish to remain fresh when reach the European market. That’s another reason why the Schengen area is excellent for Norway – we are exporting a huge amount of fresh fish.

Regarding the migration issue at the border with Russia, is this now stabilised?

The numbers are now down to zero. It has been zero since December, when we reached an agreement in our dialogue with Russia. This is an incident that should not happen again. You have to realise this is a very sensitive area for the Russians, where they have military bases, submarines with nuclear weapons. It was really surprising that this could ever happen.

Was it not intentional?

I don’t know.

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Terrorist

Norway man jailed in Jordan for terror plot

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

_54767919_jordan_mapA Jordanian court sentenced a Norwegian man of Iraqi descent to 15 years in prison on Sunday for planning “terrorist acts” in the kingdom.

Khaled al-Rebai, 49, was also found guilty by Amman’s state security court of “possessing explosive material,” according to the verdict delivered in front of Norwegian diplomats in the Jordanian capital.

Rebai was found not guilty of belonging to Iran’s Quds Force, the foreign army of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, an AFP correspondent said.

His lawyers said they would appeal the guilty verdicts.

Rebai was arrested in July in possession of 45 kilogrammes of explosives in the northern town of Jarash.

Jordan said at the time it had foiled a “terrorist” attack due to be carried out by an Iraqi Quds Force member.

(afp)

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Asia and Norway

International Day of Yoga in Oslo

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-18 at 14.33.24“This year’s observance of the International Day of Yoga highlights the important role healthy living plays in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted last year by all 193 United Nations Member States.” Ban Ki-moon , United Nations Secretary-General

Embassy of India Oslo is celebrating International Day of Yoga 2016 on 24 June 2016 at Norwegian School of Sports Sciences (NIH), Sognsveien 220, Oslo. The IDY aims to foster peace and harmony in the consciousness of people.

UN has declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga(IDY) since 2015.

Last year Embassy of India celebrated inaugural IDY 2015 in Telenor Arena, Fornebu in which about 1500 participants took part.

All are welcome to participate in this year’s Yoga Day programme for which the admission is free.

Participants are requested to bring their own Yoga mats.

Programme – 24 June 2016

The programme is as follows:

1500 hrs: Programme commences

1500 hrs – Doors open at the Indoor stadium, NIH, Sognsveien 220, Oslo

1600-1800 hrs – Yoga session

1800-1900 hrs – Product promotion by various Yoga schools from Oslo, Juice and light refreshments sale

The event is free for public to see/participate.

Limited number of yoga mats will be available on-site for use but we would encourage public to bring their own mats.

Screen Shot 2016-06-18 at 14.26.18

We are pleased to announce that following up on India’s highly successful programme to celebrate the ‘International Day of Yoga’ worldwide in June 2015 which was also celebrated in Oslo, Norway with 1500 participants, we are happy to host a similar yoga festival this year in true spirit of international cooperation.

The Embassy of India has the pleasure of inviting all our friends in Norway to a Yoga programme on24 June 2016. This is an event for all ages – beginners and advanced.

Yoga is India’s gift to the world and this is a perfect exercise for health, well-being, and making a lifestyle choice. This programme will give us an opportunity to practice yoga and learn how to focus and create harmony and peace in our lives.

Practical information
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (Norges Idrettshøgskole, NIH), Sognsveien 220

Free admission

The doors open at 15:00. The programme starts at 16:00 and the event ends at 18:00.

Please wear convenient clothing. Bring your own yoga mat or a large towel and a bottle of water. Juices will be provided. Indian vegetarian snacks would also be available.

Take metro no. 5 to Sognsvann. Parking facilities are also available.
Welcome to an inspiring and joyful Yoga Day.

Looking forward to meeting you at the largest Yoga Festival in Norway!

With warm regards,
Air Chief Marshal (Retd) NAK Browne
Ambassador of India to Norway

International Day of Yoga in Norway or India in Norway

www.indemb.no

 

www.idayofyoga.org

 

The United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.

Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as International Yoga Day by resolution 69/131.

International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

Background Information

The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states. The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action … a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.”

The resolution notes “the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health.” In this regard, the World Health Organization has also urged its member states to help their citizens reduce physical inactivity, which is among the top ten leading causes of death worldwide, and a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

But yoga is more than a physical activity. In his statement before the vote on the resolution, the President of the 69th session of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa emphasized this point: “For centuries, people from all walks of life have practiced yoga, recognizing its unique embodiment of unity between mind and body. Yoga brings thought and action together in harmony.”

In a statement UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also pointed out the global benefits of Yoga: “Yoga is a sport that can contribute to development and peace. Yoga can even help people in emergency situations to find relief from stress.”

In the words of one of its most famous practitioners, the late B. K. S. Iyengar, “Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”

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Russia and Norway

Council of the Federation headed by the Chairman of Committee

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

On the 16-17th of June the delegation of the Council of the Federation headed by the Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev is visiting Oslo.

Today senators held meetings with Vice President of the Storting Ingjerd Schou, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Anniken Huitfeldt, Leader of the Labour Party Jonas Gahr Støre.

Bilateral relations and European security issues were discussed in a friendly atmosphere.

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Defence

“Deteriorated security situation” prompts defence boost in Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

316660_img650x420_img650x420_cropThe Norwegian government has proposed a substantial increase in military funding to tackle “deteriorated” security situation in its long-term plan for the Nordic country’s armed forces.

In its white paper to parliament describing the Long Term Plan for the Norwegian Armed Forces for the years 2017-2020, the Norwegian government recommended a gradual increase in the defence budget over the course of the coming four years to a 2020-level 7.2 billion kroner (860 million U.S. dollars) above 2016-levels.

In total, the Norwegian government recommended additional funding over the course of the coming 20 years of 165 billion kroner (19.7 billion U.S. dollars), according to the plan.

“The international security situation, both globally and in Norway’s immediate region, has deteriorated since the previous Long Term Plan was presented in 2012,” the white paper said.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg called the plan “a new course, change of pace and a historic commitment to the armed forces,” according to the Norwegian news agency NTB.

“We are taking a big step towards NATO’s goal of having a defence budget close to two percent of GDP,” Solberg said, adding that the armed forces will cooperate with their allies in case of a military crisis.

The new long-term plan would strengthen Norway’s defense capabilities and contribute to safety and freedom, she said.

Norwegian Minister of Defence Ine Eriksen Soreide said the government in this way lays the foundation for a long-term and sustainable development of the armed forces with a real balance between tasks, structure and economy.

“The armed forces are not adapted to the challenges we face and defense capability needs to be strengthened. We have to choose between keeping the defense structure as it is today and increasing our defense capability,” Soreide said.

“Our answer is that it is imperative to increase our defense capabilities in the current security and political situation,” Soreide added.

The new plan also includes significant economic cuts through savings and changed personnel structure, estimated to be 2.5 billion kroner (299 million U.S. dollars) by the end of 2020 and a total of 40 billion kroner (4.8 billion U.S. dollars) over a period of 20 years.

The internal efficiency savings will allow funding to be re-allocated to other high priority areas within the defence sector, according to the plan.

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Terrorist

Kerry finally admits terrorism is greater threat than global warming

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

kerry_brende_kongsfjordenJust days after the ISIS-inspired Orlando shooting, Secretary of State John Kerry was busy touring the Arctic Circle this week to see how climate change was affecting the region. But he did make one stunning admission: ISIS and terrorism poses a bigger threat than climate change, revealing a drastic paradigm shift. On Thursday, Kerry told reporters in Norway that “I’d probably give violent extremism — have to say one of — the defining threat[s] of a generation.” He also said, “Besides the fight against extremism is to deal with the enormous battle of climate change.” In the past, Kerry has likened climate change as the most serious threat facing mankind, and the “largest weapon of mass destruction.”

According to news reports, Kerry was accompanied by a gaggle of journalists in “small Zodiac-type inflatable boats.” Kerry and Børge Brende, Norway’s minister of foreign affairs, motored around the Arctic Ocean after leaving a research station in Ny-Alesund, a small town on the island of Spitsbergen in Svalbard, Norway. He also visited Denmark on Wednesday to see what could be done about melting ice. Both trips were planned to show Kerry’s ongoing concern about global warming ahead of an international conference on oceans he will host in September. Kerry has made climate change his top priority as secretary of state, and this will be his third such event.

Kerry told reporters we’re not where we need to be to “reverse the effects of climate change.” He called for increased efforts to migrate to renewable energy, a heavily subsidized industry that costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year. So far, renewables have proven to be more problematic, less reliable, and disastrous to the ecosystem. “Even where there is awareness, the steps that people are taking are not big enough, fast enough,” Kerry reiterated. “So we have a huge distance to travel.”

It’s also the start of summer in the Arctic Ocean, and sea ice loss is occurring as it does every year in the region. Meanwhile, President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden visited Orlando yesterday where the president gave a widely criticized 30-minute speech about gun control, and not a tribute to the strength and resiliency of the victims.

The change in Kerry’s priorities marks the first time he has acknowledged that ISIS was a bigger threat than global warming, delivering his comments just days after a radical Jihadist gunmen killed 49 people in an Orlando nightclub last weekend. The shooter was eventually killed by police. For many years, Kerry has said that climate change was a much bigger threat than ISIS and the “greatest challenge of our generation.”

Some consider Kerry’s visit to the Arctic a tone-deaf response in the wake of another ISIS-inspired massacre. Kerry told reporters he was traveling to Greenland today to see what he could do to stop the melting of the ice sheets. According to the most recent study, Greenland’s ice sheet shows little sign of melting due to its unique thermal lid that prevents any snow and ice from escaping the island. This has allowed the ice sheet to continuously build up on the island.

Kerry said if we lose the ice sheets in Greenland, “we would see a sea level rise of some 22 feet over the course of this century.” Most climate experts and marine scientists say that statements like that only serve to alarm the public over the most unlikely scenarios occurring. Any melting going on in Greenland has more to do with geothermal activity and not from increase global temperatures.

In April 2016, a new study in Nature showed that much of the north-central portion of Greenland’s ice sheet is melting from below from mantle heat and friction. Known as basal melting, it illustrates how geological melting speeds up sections of ice toward the ocean, where it eventually calves off. So no amount of willpower by Kerry or reduction can stop this naturally occurring process.

On Wednesday, Kerry said: “This thing called climate change is looming out there, a decidedly different challenge but, let me tell you, one that is existential and already impacting our lives, giving us a preview of the planet-wide catastrophe that we would face if we don’t change course,” and adding: “And with it, the kinds of catastrophic movements of people.”

“If we think we see refugees today, imagine what would happen when whole rivers dry up and food shifts and production is limited and people are fighting over those limitations,” he said, referring to Syrian refugee crisis that happened under his watch. Kerry was one of the primary sponsors of the Paris Climate Agreement, where 190 or so nations agreed to limit carbon dioxide emissions to prevent a two-degree Celsius rise in temperatures.

While in the Arctic Ocean, Kerry spent much of his time taking pictures with his smartphone before his boat headed back to the research station. In 2009, then Sen. John Kerry predicted the Arctic would be ice free by 2014, or in five years (see video), while in actuality sea ice had grown in size during that time. Dr. Benny Peiser, a climate expert at the Global Warming Policy Foundation, noted in late 2014 that the poles are “much more stable” than climate scientists once thought and could even be thicker than previously thought.

(examiner)

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Royal House

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has opened the Petter Dass festival in Alstahaug

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

x-crown-prince-haakon-and-crown-princess-mette-marit--691610b75c20599e99d1ee44d59b0e5b0801921a.pagespeed.ic.-mLeAs1pVFNorway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has opened the Petter Dass festival in Alstahaug.

The 42-year-old royal gave a speech on the first day of the ceremony, which took place on Thursday (16.06.16) in the Helgeland region of Norway, and revealed she has been “very much” looking forward to attending the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, which was reported on news  website, the blonde beauty said: “I have been looking very much forward to finally experiencing this cultural festival, which in Petter Dass’ own spirit unites several artistic expressions, such as literature, music and visual arts, in wonderful surroundings. It’s a great experience to be here.”

The theme for this year’s festival is based on the Mosaic Law’s second commandment, which is: “You shall not misuse the name of God”, and organisers have been inspired by the subject of freedom of expression and cultural taboos to fit in with the theme.

Speaking about the theme, the mother-of-two – who has 12-year-old daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway and 10-year-old son Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway with her husband the Crown Prince of Norway Haakon – said: “This way the festival shows how important it is to remain relevant, to interpret the textual heritage in a way that brings it into our times.”

Meanwhile, Mette-Marit enjoyed a day out at the two-day festival EAT: Stockholm Food Forum, which was held at the Clarion Hotel Sign on Tuesday (14.06.16) with Princess Victoria of Sweden, 38, where they spoke at the conference alongside ‘The Naked Chef’ Jamie Oliver.

(femalefirst)

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Russia and Norway

Norway aims to boost defenses against ‘unpredictable’ Russia

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

316660_img650x420_img650x420_cropNorway announced plans Friday for its biggest military upgrade effort since the end of the Cold War, to bolster its defenses against an “increasingly unpredictable” Russia.

The Scandinavian country, a NATO member, plans new fighter jets and submarines to boost its ability to protect itself from its vast neighbor, with which it shares an Arctic border.

Over 20 years Norway would boost its defense budget by 165 billion kroner (17.5 billion euros at current exchange rate), according to details of a military programming law presented by the government.

“Unfortunately the geopolitical circumstances have changed significantly, in a bad way, in recent years,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a press conference in Oslo.

“We have an increasingly unpredictable neighbor to the east which is strengthening its military capacity, and showing willingness to use military force as a political tool,” she added.

The military programming law aims to upgrade the army both by efforts on maintaining existing resources and buying new equipment.

It foresees the purchase of 52 F-35 fighter jets and four submarines, as well as new naval surveillance planes to replace six ageing P-3 Orion aircraft.

The extra expenditure will bring Norway’s military budget up towards the 2.0 percent of GDP goal fixed by NATO, while not reaching it.

Solberg said the country’s current military might “is not adapted to the geopolitical situation,” describing a “historic defense effort, the biggest since the end of the Cold War.”

But it is less than the 180 billion kroner sought last year by the armed forces chief Haakon Bruun-Hanssen.

Before the military plans can be implemented the right-wing government has to get its proposals adopted in parliament where it is in a minority, and could therefore have to make amendments.

(AFP)

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Russia and Norway

Russia could limit import of salmon genetic material from Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

1015780395Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergey Dankvert met with Jose Miguel Burgos, the head of Chile’s Sernapesca fisheries body, on Thursday.

“The sides [Russia and Chile]…have mapped out concrete steps for the supply of genetic material from Chile for growing salmon in the Russian Federation. This will allow to replace Norwegian supplies of this product,”

Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement after the meeting.

According to the Russian agriculture watchdog, the move comes amid concerns over the spread of salmon infections.

(News.Az)

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Politics

Embassy of Ireland and Oslo Pride are hosting an event on corporate engagement in LGBT rights

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-17 at 12.03.59The Embassy of Ireland is hosting in conjunction with Oslo Pride a free event on Thursday 23 June at Eldorado Bokhandel from 2 pm until 3.30 pm.

The event will focus on «Corporate Engagement in LGBT Rights» and the positive role that this can play for both the LGBT community and the businesses who are leading the way in this field. There will be a panel discussion on the approach of corporate sector in Ireland and Norway involving private sector actors and highlighting the Diversity Champions programme in Ireland.

Ireland will be represented by Brian Sheehan, the Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) and Michelle Toner, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at eir, Ireland’s principal provider of fixed-line and mobile telecommunications services. In April 2015 eir became a member of the GLEN Diversity Champions programme and launched their first LGBT network – eir Spectrum, for their employees. The eir Spectrum network is fully inclusive with both LGBT employees and straight allies working together with a common goal of raising awareness that eir is a company where everyone, regardless of sexuality or background are welcome to bring their whole selves to work and will be respected for what they as individuals bring to the eir team.
This event is open to all and free to enter. We would be particularly interested in attendees from the Norwegian business community who might share their own experiences and initiatives in this area.
If you like to attend the event you can send an e-mail to rsvposlo@dfa.ie

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Politics

What can the US learn from Norway’s gun laws?

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

RTR2P8BKBreivik’s massacre began on July 22, 2011, with a car bomb in Oslo that killed eight people. Later that day, using a semi-automatic rifle, he went on a shooting rampage on the island of Utoya, killing another 69 people, most of whom were young campers.

How did Norway react? And does it offer any lessons for the US — a nation that has once again been devastated by a mass shooting?

Åsne Seierstad, a Norwegian journalist and the author of “One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway,” says some of the discussions people had in Norway after Breivik’s attacks mirror the ones that Americans are having after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.

“The main question we asked ourselves is, ‘Is he mad man, or is he a political terrorist?’” Seierstad says. “Those are two different things.”

Oslo District Court ruled that Anders Breivik was political terrorist and sentenced him to the maximum prison term allowable in Norway: 21 years in prison, with the possibility of an extension. The court found that Breivik was sane and responsible for the 77 murders, even though he had been diagnosed with a mental illness.

“He got the diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, but that doesn’t exempt you from being punished,” Seierstad explains. “You’re still accountable for your crime. You know what you did, you knew you had a choice, you knew you could stop.”

Since Breivik’s attacks, the country hasn’t faced any mass shootings — something that can’t be said about the US.

Like Americans, many Norwegians own guns. But according to Seierstad, the culture of gun ownership is very different in the two countries. In Norway, for example, it’s uncommon to see guns outside organized settings like gun clubs or during hunting season.

“Yes, there’s a high percentage of gun ownership in Norway,” she says, “but those guns are used mainly one week in the year during the hunting of elk season … the rest of the year it’s locked down and stored.”

Even US and Norwegian law enforcement have different approaches to firearms.

“The police has not been armed in Norway,” Seierstad says. “People in the US could say, ‘Well, isn’t that scary?’ Well when the police is not armed, the drug dealer is not armed, the criminals are not armed, because no one is armed.”

After Orlando, Americans and US lawmakers are arguing over whether to strengthen (or even weaken) gun regulations. But after the attacks in Oslo and Utoya, Norwegian law didn’t change.

The Norwegian government did set up a committee that proposed tighter gun laws — including mandatory medical background checks, regular checks on weapon owners and better lists accounting for guns with lead ammunition — but none these proposals went into effect.

Why? The reason was pretty simple.

“We had quite restrictive laws,” Seierstad explains. “We have very very few gun accidents and gun murders.”

(pri)

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Svalbard

Norway Launches Art Foundation and Residency in World’s Northernmost Town

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

article0The Norwegian ministry of culture has announced that it will establish an art foundation and artist residency in Longyearbyen—one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas—which is located on an archipelago of four islands in the Artic Ocean called Svalbard, Anny Shaw of the Art Newspaper reports.

The Art in Svalbard Foundation will be funded by the ministry of culture in partnership with Tromso’s Northern Norway Art Museum, the Office of Contemporary Art Norway, and the Queen Sonja Print Award. The initiative is part of the government’s strategy to revitalize the coal-mining town, which is facing bankruptcy.

Although the foundation and residency are still in the initial planning stages, there have been discussions about hosting three to five artists at a time. For Katya García-Antón, director of the Office of Contemporary Art Norway, the residencies are “experimental.” He said, “Artists won’t be expected to turn up, make a work and leave. There’s a strong wish that things become more rooted.”

Longyearbyen is located on Svalbard’s largest island, Spitsbergen. The population of 2,100 people endures tough environmental conditions including a period of four months when the sun doesn’t rise—dubbed “the polar night”—rapid changes in weather, and the threat of being outnumbered by polar bears.

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Corruption in Norway

Norway attorney ‘plotted to kidnap victim’

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

978d3e3575b06775613842ae96373587164f495454b04376fbb18afbdf66605aAttorney Amir Mirmotahari, 38, who is accused of having planned the kidnapping and drugging of a rape victim, was arrested by Oslo Police on Thursday.

“The accused showed up at the police station with his attorney at 1.30pm. He is charged with obstruction of the judiciary system under especially aggravating circumstances under paragraph 132a of the Penal Code,” police superintendent Stein Olav Bredli said.

On Friday morning, Oslo Police requested that Mirmotahari be held in custody while police build their case.

The lawyer is accused of having planned the kidnapping of a rape victim, something he denies.

On Thursday, VG published an audio recording that appeared to reveal Mirmotahari’s plans to kidnap a rape victim and have her drugged in order to help free his client from rape charges. The plot never came to fruition and the Romanian rape suspect represented by Mirmotahari was sentenced to five years in prison.

“I can see that I have acted in a manner that is likely to harm lawyers’ professional reputation and will therefore discontinue my law practice with immediate effect,” Mirmotahari wrote in a statement published by VG.

His now discontinued law firm had seven employees.

“I understand that the recordings shock all who hear them. What I say in the conversation is very offensive to the woman concerned, and I apologize for that,” his statement continued.

According to VG, the aim of the alleged kidnapping plot was to keep the rape victim from appearing in court to give testimony so that the lawyer’s defendant would be acquitted. Mirmotahari has said that the audio recording has been taken out of context and that plan was never meant to be real.

“I thought that you, with your background, might have some possible solutions. What about if one should kidnap a person for a few days?” he is heard saying in the recording from May 2015, a week before he was to defend one of two Romanian men who were charged with having beaten and raped a 40-something drug addict in August 2013.

Mirmotahari said that he was under extreme pressure from the man who made the recording.

“I did say it. It sounds harsh, it’s unfortunate. But it nothing ever happened anything,” the lawyer said.

Mirmotahari said that he and his family have had to live at a secret address because he has faced numerous threats.

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Terrorist

Radical Islamist group in Philippines threatens beheading of hostages

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Radical-Islamist-group-in-Philippines-threatens-beheading-of-hostagesIncoming President Rodrigo Duterte is stepping up efforts to beat back the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf after it threatened to behead a Filipino woman and Norwegian man if it does not receive a $13 million ransom.

Duterte’s chief negotiator, Jesus Dureza, is talking directly with leaders of the militant group in an effort to free Kjarten Sekkingstad, a citizen of Norway, and Marites Flor of the Philippines. They have been held hostage since being abducted from a resort in the Philippines in September. The extremist group beheaded two others taken hostage at the same time — Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel.

“We will upload a new video soon for our new ultimatum. No ransom, another beheading,” Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Raami said Wednesday.

Abu Sayyaf leaders said Hall’s beheading was intended to embarrass Duterte, who will take office on June 30. Duterte had promised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an end to the beheadings after Ridsdel’s death in April.

Incoming National Police Chief Robert Dela Rosa suggested martial law may be imposed in some areas, allowing the government to impose strict curfews and suspend civil rights.

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Science

Assess, build and improve security culture with CLTRe

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

cltre-toolkit-062016Norwegian security startup CLTRe announced a new product series, enhancing its existing Saas offering, the Security Culture Toolkit. This new range consists of CLTRe Control, CLTRe Discover and CLTRe Improve, which provide customers with a suite of tools to assess, build and improve the security culture within their organization.

According to Gartner, 2.6 Billion USD is spent on security awareness training each year, across the globe. With this in mind, CLTRe highlights the value of metrics in building security awareness, and questions the true results gained from a “one size fits all” security training approach. Without an inward look into the specific activities of the business and its employee culture, how can any results be gained?

CLTRe believes it has the answer to this problem with its new product series providing a birds eye view of a business, with a detailed view of the real practices and interactions that influence security – social behaviours and customs, awareness and education, technology and management.

CLTRe Control

This is the central hub where the CSO or CIO learn about their company’s security culture, administer assessments, plan activities and distribute training content. They also have access to reports, trends and changes in the culture.

“When building and maintaining security culture, it is vital to have access to relevant information – information that answers questions like ‘How is the security training changing our culture?’, and ‘Which individuals behaviour enhance security culture in the organization?’ You may also want to know where to start, and to control the efforts,” says Kai Roer, CEO of CLTRe.

CLTRe Discover

At the core of the toolkit is the data collection process. Every employee receives an annual assessment that’s designed using social science principles. The assessment is unique in its ability to measure security culture: the ideas, customs and social behaviours that influence security. In only ten minutes per employee, the company get a complete overview of the current security culture pitfalls, strongholds and trends.

CLTRe Improve

By using each employee score from CLTRe Discover, CLTRe Improve automatically administers learning content that are adjusted to the security culture score of each employee. Instead of sending out weekly trainings with the exact same content to all employees, the CLTRe Improve takes the individual learner into account, thereby dramatically improving the training results.

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Svalbard

Kerry eyewitnessed melting Arctic

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

kerry_brende_kongsfjordenKerry toured Svalbard on Thursday with Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende and head of the Norwegian Polar Institute Jan Gunnar Winther.

In Kongsfjorden, not far from the world’s northernmost science community settlement in Ny-Ålesund, Kerry was explained by Winther how the glacier melts away both due to increased atmospheric temperatures as well as warmer seawater in the Arctic.

Last winter, Svalbard faced a heat wave never seen before with temperatures in periods nearly 8 degrees Celsius warmer than average in modern times.

“Important to have Johan Kerry at Svalbard seeing with his own eyes that the Arctic is warming faster than any other region,” Brende said in a tweet from Svalbard after the voyage into Kongsfjorden where one of the many Arctic glaciers melts.

“We’re going to learn more about the remarkable work that our scientists are doing to help the world understand how these changes in polar regions are going to affect every single one of us,” Kerry said in a joint meeting with Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg before departure to Svalbard.

Jan Gunnar Winther with the Polar Institute is glaciologist and has been one of the leading scientists writing the latest reports for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC).

He could explain to Kerry that the glacier in Kongsfjorden has significantly receded in recent years. Just like many of the other glaciers in the circumpolar north; on Svalbard, in the Barents Region, Iceland and on Greenland.

In an email to the Barents Observer, Jan Gunnar Winther says we have seen consecutively climate records in the north in recent years.

“We see a climate normalization of conditions in Svalbard that is more and more like those we know from the coast of northern Norway. Unfortunately, the climate models suggest that this trend will continue,” Jan Gunnar Winter explains.

The United States is currently chairing the Arctic Council and Secretary Kerry underlined the importance of joint international cooperation on climate changes.

“We will highlight our partnership through the Arctic Council, which we will work very closely on,” Kerry said.

(thebarentsobserver)

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