President Chissano, Mrs. Chissano, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

My wife and I would like to thank you for your kind invitation to visit Mozambique, and for the warm welcome we have received today. We are honoured to be here, among the first official visitors since you, Mr. President, took office for the second time as Mozambique’s democratically elected president.

Mr. President, when we arrived this morning we saw the serious consequences of the massive flooding that has hit your country over the past days. We deplore the loss of lives, and the extensive damages to housing and basic infrastructure caused by this flooding. Norway has decided to donate USD 100 000.- for immediate relief through the UN Office for the co-ordinator for Humanitarian affairs, OCHA. We are also prepared to respond positively to appeals put forward at the donors meeting scheduled for the 15 ^th> of this month.

Mr. President, Mozambique has made impressive progress in recent years. After a devastating war, the peace agreement in 1992 was welcomed by the whole international community.

We continue to be impressed by your achievements - in building peace and reconciliation, promoting development, strengthening democracy, and reforming the economy. Your economic growth is but one visible example of your efforts. I am confident that these positive trends will continue during the next five-year period. Your strong commitment to promoting the welfare of the people, not least the most disadvantaged, is crucial to the future of Mozambique.

But you cannot go it alone. The international community must demonstrate its solidarity. Your urgent need for comprehensive debt reduction must be met now, without delay.

The formal relations between our countries date back to 1975, when Norway recognised Mozambique as an independent state. However, our unofficial and personal contacts go much further back in time. Already in 1888, the Norwegian missionary Nils Astrup made an expedition from Zululand in South Africa to the Limpopo and the Kingdom of Umgaza, which is now the province of Gaza. Another Norwegian missionary, Ingrid Chawner, and her Canadian husband, established the Pentecostal congregation in Mozambique. A juvenile rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of Maputo now carries her name.

In the 1960s Norway began to provide support to Mozambican refugees in Tanzania. When the war in the 1980s forced millions of Mozambicans to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, Norwegian NGO’s responded to this crisis, supported by the Norwegian government. Most of these NGO’s continue to work actively with Mozambican organizations today.

Let me continue by quoting a poem:

The land where we are born comes with the passing of time from very far away. Our forefathers were born and lived in this land.

These lines were written by a poet named Kalungano. I understand that Kalungano’s real name is Marcelino dos Santos, and that he is one of the great Frelimo leaders. I also understand that he played a role in establishing diplomatic relations between our two countries, (and I am particularly pleased that he is with us here tonight).

Today, Mozambique and Norway enjoy a strong and stable partnership. We share a firm commitment to promoting our development co-operation, and thereby to strengthening the democratic process, combating poverty and improving the living conditions of all Mozambicans. We look forward to close co-operation with the Mozambican Government in these fields. Our two nations share the same ideals of democracy, human rights and international justice. We therefore have a solid basis for expanding our co-operation into other areas as well. I attach particular priority to the broadening of our political contacts.

I believe there is a growing potential for trade and investment between Norway and Mozambique. The Norwegian business community is taking an increasing interest in your country. Through development co-operation, many Norwegian companies have had the opportunity to get to know your country and your people. Thus, around 20 Norwegian business representatives took part in the FACIM exhibition in Maputo last year. Our pavilion at the Exhibition Centre is soon going to be too small. On this trip alone, I am accompanied by almost 40 Norwegian business people. I hope that Mozambican and Norwegian companies will find many opportunities to enter into joint ventures and business activities to their mutual advantage. This is also the rationale behind our strategy for private sector development, where Mozambique has been chosen as a pilot country.

Mr. President, Mozambique played a key role in the establishment of the International Convention Banning Anti-personnel mines. You have taken a leading role in combating the suffering caused by the widespread use of mines in so many conflicts in Africa. An effective global ban on mines is high on the political agenda of our two countries. We want to continue our close co-operation with you in this important field, and also continue our support for de-mining in Mozambique.

Mr. President I wish to commend you for your relentless efforts to mediate in the conflicts in Angola and Congo. You know through experience that peace holds the key to development. The old call to make swords into plough-shares is your vision of today’s Mozambique. You have shown a way for others to follow, and a determination from which others should seek inspiration. The achievements in Mozambique, give hope to other conflict-ridden countries. I can assure you that the Norwegian government and people stand ready to support you. We want to be partners for peace in the region.

In closing let me propose a toast to the President and the people of Mozambique.