Press Releases from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Norway regrets the death sentence against US citizen Timothy Shaun Stemple, who is due to be executed in the state of Oklahoma on 15 March. Read more

Around 100 Israelis and Palestinians have been injured and 23 people in Gaza have been confirmed dead since Friday. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “I urge all parties to refrain from new acts of violence.” Read more

Yesterday, the UN Human Rights Council held the first debate on how the UN can help to combat violence and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “This is a historic moment for the UN. Under the leadership of South Africa, we have at last had a debate on how the international community can promote... Read more

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council expressed grave concern about the situation in the border area between Sudan and South Sudan and urged the parties to stop all use of violence. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “Norway shares the Security Council’s concern about the escalating violence and deadlocked negotiations. The statement makes it very clear that the... Read more

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to provide NOK 105 million over a five-year period to the Research Council of Norway’s programme on Russia and international relations in the High North/Arctic (NORRUSS) . “Our intention is to enhance knowledge about Russia and the High North. These are key areas in Norwegian foreign policy, and we need to have up-to-date information at all times if we are to ... Read more

“The results indicate that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has won a clear victory in the Russian presidential election and that voter turnout was high. Norway is ready to further develop its close cooperation with Russia. At the same time, despite improvements compared with the Duma elections in December, we are concerned by reports from international observers from the OSCE and the Council of... Read more

“Norway welcomes the EU’s decision to grant Serbia candidate status and to start working towards closer cooperation with Kosovo. These are important contributions to the stabilisation of South East Europe,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

At the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Senior Officials' Meeting in Copenhagen on 1 March it was decided that Norway would be admitted to the forum. “I am very pleased with the decision taken in Copenhagen. This opens up a new and meaningful forum for dialogue for Norway,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

The Norwegian citizen charged in the case against NGO workers in Egypt left the country last night after a travel ban was lifted by the Egyptian authorities. Read more

From Senegal in the west to Eritrea in the east, people are on the brink of a major disaster. Norway is therefore providing NOK 50 million to help those affected by the drought and ensuing food crisis. Read more

“Norway deeply deplores the latest developments in Belarus in which the EU and Polish ambassadors have been asked to leave the country. It is difficult to see how this will benefit the country. Belarus is isolating itself from Europe and the rest of the world and this can only damage its own political and economic development,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Today, Norway transferred NOK 240 million in budget support to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Norway is one of the first donor countries to transfer its contribution for 2012. Read more

Norway is contributing NOK 22 million to organisations that are providing emergency relief to Syria and assisting Syrian refugees. “I am deeply concerned that the Syrian authorities are not allowing aid organisations necessary access to provide emergency relief in conflict areas, particularly in the city of Homs. Norway urges the Syrian authorities to give humanitarian aid organisations full... Read more

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “I deeply deplore the recent authorisation by the Israeli authorities of housing units in the West Bank. The building of settlements on occupied land is illegal and a violation of international law.” Read more

Norway is to donate NOK 11 million to a new fund for Somalia. The international Stability Fund will improve the lives of Somalis by supporting local efforts to promote reconciliation. Read more

Hans Olav Karde, CEO of Sparebank 1 Nord-Norge, has been appointed as the new chair of the Government’s High North committee. “I would like to welcome Mr Karde as chair of the committee, and I look forward to continued close and fruitful cooperation with the committee in the time ahead,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

The Government decided today to cancel around NOK 20 million of Côte d’Ivoire’s debt to Norway. Read more

A new Norwegian-led research project is to identify the economic benefits of investing in women’s health. Read more

“The Government is deeply concerned about the situation in Syria. It is both dangerous and unacceptable, and is looking more and more like a civil war. This is underscored by the latest, unconfirmed reports of new attacks in Homs,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “Norway strongly condemns the increasing use of violence in Syria, where thousands have been killed. We deeply deplore the Syrian authorities’ gross human rights violations against the country’s own population.” Read more