Increasing scepsis towards USA (Aftenposten)

Every second Norwegian is now more critical of the USA than they were a year ago. The USA’s environmental policy is seen as particularly negative. While the World Summit on Sustainable Development was taking place in Johannesburg, 68 per cent of those polled said that they had a negative impression of the USA’s environmental policy, while only four per cent said they had a favourable opinion of the USA on this issue. Norwegians are also unhappy with the USA’s role in the UN. A substantial majority of Norwegians are opposed to US military action against Iraq. 74 per cent said no, 10 per cent said yes. There is a considerable risk that we are now seeing the start of a trend which will create sharper divisions in the way Europeans and Americans interpret reality, writes Aftenposten in its leader article.

Release prompts change in legislation (Dagsavisen)

The Director General of Public Prosecutions yesterday dropped all charges against two men arrested in connection with the largest seizure of heroin in Norwegian history, because he feared for the lives of the police informants involved. Justice Minister Odd Einar Dørum (Lib) will now implement measures to improve the protection afforded to police sources. The two suspects will now not face trial in connection with the seizure of 35 kilos of heroin last year. They were released from custody immediately after the Director General of Public Prosecutions had ordered on Monday that charges be dropped. The Director General’s decision came after the Appeal Committee of the Supreme Court last week rejected an application by the prosecution to keep secret the identities of the police informants involved.

Dørum caught off guard (Dagbladet)

"Justice Minister Odd Einar Dørum has talked loudly and bombastically about the fight against organized crime, but he has forgotten the most fundamental factor in a criminal trial – the witnesses," said Labour’s legal affairs spokesman, Knut Storberget. He feels that in serious criminal cases some parts of the police investigation should be withheld from suspects and their defence counsels. "It is the only way to protect police sources against reprisals," said Mr Storberget. But this was not included in the Government’s proposed measures to combat terrorism and organized crime which were debated in the Storting this spring.

Three sides in agreement (Dagsavisen)

Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik believes strongly in a broad-based collaboration on pay levels. So do the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO). Yesterday unions and employers’ organizations met at the Prime Minister’s office to discuss this year’s wage settlements. "There is a willingness to cooperate on wages," said Mr Bondevik after the meeting. The PM points to the fact that those companies facing international competition, and Norwegian industry in particular, have experienced problems caused by substantial wage rises and a strong Norwegian currency. The PM also reminded participants that the investment tax will be abolished from 1 October, which amounts to NOK 6 billion in tax relief for businesses next year.

Oil industry helps Jens (Dagbladet)

In tonight’s edition of NRK’s investigative documentary series, Brennpunkt, it is revealed that when Jens Stoltenberg toppled the sitting Bondevik government and took office in March 2000 over the issue of gas-fired power stations, it was on the basis of a report produced by the Centre for Economic Analysis, but commissioned by the oil industry. At that time Mr Stoltenberg had already had close links with the Centre for Economic Analysis for a long period, including a stint as chairman. "These kinds of issues must be looked at from all sides. You cannot simply highlight those factors which suit you. The most important thing is that information is not withheld and that conclusions are impartial. Some aspects of this case look very much as though they were bought and paid for," said Lars Haltbrekken, leader of the Popular Action Against Gas-Fired Power Stations.

Minister threatens to cut sick pay (Dagens Næringsliv)

Labour and Government Administration Minister Victor D. Norman is threatening to cut sick pay benefits from as early as next year. Last year the Government and the main union and employers’ organizations agreed to maintain the current sick pay scheme and reduce absenteeism through illness by 20 per cent by 2005. But despite this agreement the number of people taking sick leave has continued to grow. According to Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss, he would have had NOK 4.5 billion more to spend in next year’s budget if absenteeism had fallen in line with the agreement. Mr Norman has now made it clear that people taking sick leave could lose the right to full pay as early as 2003. The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) has reacted strongly to Mr Norman’s comments. "We are tired of ministers who say that they back the agreement on an inclusive workplace, but whose public comments cast doubts on it. The Government must now give us some peace and quiet in which to work. The agreement has been in effect for barely six months. You cannot expect results this soon," said Per Gunnar Olsen of the LO.

EU could slash price of cars in Norway (Aftenposten)

Cars in Norway could become radically cheaper to buy, but driving them could cost a lot more, if the EU has its way. Controversial proposals announced in Brussels yesterday will send shock waves through the European car market. A number of EU countries have a tax which the EU calls a registration tax. And it is this tax which the EU wants to abolish. This is how the EU envisages life for Europe’s motorists: it will be cheaper to buy a car, but more expensive to use it. The EU’s motor vehicle policy is to be turned in a more environment-friendly direction. And that means a drastic change the way cars are taxed and considerable harmonization between the member states.

1. Worth Noting

• Profits posted by the Oslo Stock Exchange’s 50 largest companies slumped by NOK 30 billion in the first six months of the year, compared with the same period last year. This means that a third of these companies’ profits has evaporated since the start of the year. The slump in profits is not to any great extent due to last year’s terrorist attacks on the USA.
  (Aftenposten)
• The Norwegian Bar Association has warned against creating new rules to protect witnesses. The Association fears that this could erode defendants’ right to due process under the law, reports NRK.
  (NTB)
• The Centre Party’s proposal to give tax relief to people living in outlying communities with little business activity has been coldly received by the other parties in the Storting. "The tax system should be neutral and not dependent on where you live," said the Progress Party’s Siv Jensen in response to the Centre Party’s proposal for tax relief. Only the Christian Democrats are willing to consider the Centre Party’s proposal.
  (Nationen)
• Following a gratifying upturn in support last month, the Labour Party has once again dropped like a stone, according to an opinion poll carried out by Norsk Gallup on behalf of VG and TV2. Labour has slumped 4.5 percentage points in September – exactly the same amount as it advanced last month. According to the poll, the Progress Party gained 3 percentage points, putting it at 25.5 per cent and making it the country’s most popular political party.
  (Verdens Gang)
• The acquisition of Braathens looks set to be extremely profitable for SAS. SAS chief executive Jørgen Lindegaard believes Braathens’ contribution to SAS’s results could climb to NOK 1 billion this year. Braathens has announced half-year profits of NOK 372 million.
  (Dagens Næringsliv)
• GPs have said overwhelmingly that they do not want to give out methadone to drug addicts. They claim that a pilot project in Bærum led to a substantial increase in break-ins and that aggressive drug addicts bothered other patients in the doctors’ waiting rooms.
  (Dagsavisen)
• The Gender Equality Ombud has criticized Education Minister Kristin Clemet for not making it clear enough that also the free religious schools must abide by Norwegian law – including the Norwegian Gender Equality Act.
  (Klassekampen)
• Norwegians love their jobs. According to a survey carried out by the Foundation for Scientific and Technical Research (SINTEF), going to work gives them energy, self-respect, better health and a feeling of well-being.
  (Verdens Gang)

2. Today’s comment from Dagbladet

During the entire Cold War period we heard that the West had to arm itself to avoid a war. Only with arsenals bristling with the latest weaponry would deterrent have any credibility. The fundamental principle was that overwhelming military superiority was the best insurance against war. This principle survived the Cold War by almost a decade. After the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington one year ago, President Bush and the hawks in his government have got a taste for using military power. We have no sympathy for the Dictator of Baghdad, but the precedence which could be set by the USA in this case poses a serious threat to the entire post-war period’s efforts to create a world governed by law and order rather than military might and war. Norway is still a member of the UN Security Council, and the Norwegian government must speak out much more clearly than it has so far done to defend the level of civilization that has been achieved in the post-war period. The Dictator of Baghdad must be resisted by other means than war.