Press Releases from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

José Graziano da Silva from Brazil has been appointed as the new Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “I congratulate Mr Graziano da Silva on his appointment as new FAO Director-General, and I am looking forward to cooperating with him.” Read more

representatives of the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement concluded a security agreement for the important region of Abyei. Read more

The Grey Zone Agreement has been extended until 7 July Read more

Funds from the EEA and Norway Grants will be used in the fight against organised crime and human trafficking in Bulgaria. Read more

An agreement on the use of new EEA grants in the Czech Republic has now been concluded. The environment, health, research and children are among the priority areas. Read more

Oslo, Norway: With 1.5 billion people living in areas affected by political conflict and criminal violence, citizen security, justice and jobs are the most effective measures to ensure development, says the World Bank. Read more

Human trafficking is a serious problem in the Baltic Sea region. “It affects all the member states of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, is often linked with international crime, and must be combated in all its forms,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Estonia and Norway will cooperate on green industry innovation. A separate programme for this purpose is being established through the EEA and Norway Grants, with a budget of close to NOK 50 million. Read more

Today Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exchanged the instruments of ratification of the Treaty on Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Read more

“Israel’s use of violence against protesters attempting to cross the ceasefire line between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights is intolerable. The killing of unarmed protesters cannot be justified,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Norway will provide an additional NOK 30 million to Côte d’Ivoire. The money will be used for reconstruction and reconciliation efforts. The aim is to help to stabilise the situation in the country. Read more

“Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes because of climate-related natural disasters. We have a collective responsibility to address this challenge,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

“I am concerned about the deteriorating access to food and medicines in the Gaddafi-controlled parts of Libya. This is severely affecting the civilian population, and we must stand ready to provide assistance,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

“Norway aligns itself with the EU’s decision to extend the restrictive measures against Belarusian officials who have been involved in electoral fraud or in the brutal repression of demonstrations after the presidential election. The situation in Belarus continues to give cause for grave concern,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

“It was high time the prominent Azerbaijani newspaper editor Eynulla Fatullayev was released. This is very good news,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “Mr Fatullayev has been imprisoned since 2007, and in 2010 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that he should be released.” Read more

“The recent incidents of violence in Sudan, in the disputed area of Abyei, are clear and worrying violations of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

- I would like to congratulate Nabil El-Araby on his election as the new Secretary General of the Arab League. The choice of Dr El-Araby bodes well for the organisation, and I look forward to cooperating with him,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

“President Obama’s speech is the most important move he has made so far to resolve the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Norway supports his approach,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Norway reacts to Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues. “This is unacceptable,” said Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre. “This money must be transferred immediately.” Read more

Norway has decided to align itself with the EU’s sanctions against Syria. “Norway supports international efforts to bring an end to the unacceptable use of violence against the Syrian people,” commented Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more