Political advisor Knut Arild Hareide

Cooperation between the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust and Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen (KHiB)

Bergen, 1 October 1999

Your Excellency
Distinguished guests
Rector
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a pleasure for me to be present at the launching of this co-operative project between South Africa and Norway – a creative and challenging project between the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust and Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen.

As you all know, the bonds between our two countries have been strengthened over the years. For many years our attention was directed towards your struggle to solve South Africa’s apartheid problem and, in particular, the commitment to solve it by peaceful means. Norway strongly supported political as well as humanist movements to make an end to oppression, injustice and suffering. The Nobel Laureates Albert Lutuli, Desmond Tutu, Frederik Willem de Klerk and Nelson Mandela are all representing the best of mankind; the will to forgive - the will to live in co-existence regardless of ethnic, cultural, religious and social background. Conciliation won through both the constitutional negotiations and the first democratic election, held in April 1994, despite serious attempts to undermine them. A government of National Unity and the date May 24 in 1994 signalled a turning point in the history of South Africa.

In addition to supporting your work for democracy and equality, education and culture are prioritised fields of bilateral co-operation between our countries. Several projects could be mentioned to exemplify areas of efforts and contributions from both sides. On this occasion, I would like to mention a few;

To-day the following South African universities, are co-operating with Norwegian institutions of higher education through the NUFU Programme of co-operation and competence building at university institutions in developing countries:

• University of Durban-Westville (Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU),
• University of Fort Hare (Norwegian College of Agriculture),
• University of the North (University of Oslo),
• University of Western Cape (University of Bergen, University of Oslo, University of Tromsø).

However, there are also other co-operative projects that could have been mentioned. In addition, there are numerous contacts over the borders between academic scholars, researchers and students in our two countries. Medicine, health, natural science, social science, humanities, economy, public administration, energy, environmental protection etc. are among the subjects in focus.

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) has also, over the years, been supportive to various projects in South Africa.

Our Department of Higher Education has recently, together with NORAD, decided to join a European Consortium to assist South African higher education in the development of management and leadership capacity. This agreement is a result of a joint request from the South African Department of Education and the Centre of Higher Education Transformation (CHET) in Pretoria.

I would also like to mention the Nordic culture project Shuttle 99 aiming at strengthening the cultural relation between the Nordic countries and South Africa.

Cultural understanding, cultural expressions and cross-cultural communication are important elements in creating cross-national understanding and relations. To-day’s event is an excellent example of how art may bridge gaps between cultures and nations - how students from two very different countries may unite their creative capacity and efforts in the cause of peace.

Despite the fact that a coincidence of staff recruitment resulted in the present relation between the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust and Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen, I am convinced that the products of this co-operation will prove that the project is involving the optimal partners.

I hope that all involved in this creative cross-cultural challenge will succeed in pursuing a communicative artistic mode of expression.

I hope that the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust’s commitment to build a world-class Peace Centre and Leadership Academy in Cape Town by the year 2002, will be a success.

Well aware of the fact that there are many challenges every day in building democracy and equality, I really hope that the Peace Centre will succeed in playing an active role in the continuing process of solving the challenges of South Africa by peaceful means, and by building leadership capacity. To preserve peace, it must be fought for and obtained every day.

I wish all parties involved good luck.