Government convinced Iraq is hiding something (Dagsavisen)

Both Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik are convinced that Iraq is hiding weapons and is not cooperating sufficiently with the UN. "We were shown details that no one has seen before. It has become even more evident that Iraq is hiding something serious," said Mr Petersen. The PM believes the world is now closer to war. "If Saddam Hussein does not now begin to cooperate fully with the weapons inspectors and the UN, we will have taken a step closer to war," said Mr Bondevik. But according to Labour’s Thorbjørn Jagland, who chairs the Storting’s Foreign Affairs Committee, "Powell did not present any evidence that will convince the world."

Norway split down the middle (Dagbladet)

Every second Norwegian opposes a US war on Iraq, even if the military offensive is supported by the UN. According to a poll carried out yesterday evening, shortly after US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s speech to the UN Security Council, enthusiasm for the war is greatest among Conservative and Progress Party voters. As many as 20 per cent of Progress Party voters say we should support the USA regardless of what the UN thinks. Two out of three Conservative voters believe we should support a war if it has UN approval. It is also worth noting that supporters of the PM’s own Christian Democratic Party are somewhat more reluctant to accept an attack on Iraq than the majority of the population. Only seven per cent feel that Norway should support a US attack on Iraq, regardless.

Indirect ban on cluster bombs (Nationen)

The Storting does not want to impose a formal national ban on cluster bombs. But in practice, that is just what it is doing. A parliamentary majority has said that cluster bombs are not to be used during ‘Norwegian participation in future international operations’. Labour’s Marit Nybakk, who chairs the Storting’s Defence Committee, confirms that this is the Committee’s conclusion. Although no actual ban has been imposed, opponents of cluster bombs in the Centre Party, Labour Party and Socialist Left Party are very pleased with the Defence Committee’s conclusion.

NOK 14 billion in tax relief (Dagens Næringsliv)

The Tax Commission will today propose an increase in the basic personal allowance and a reduction in the high-income surtax, which together add up to NOK 14 billion. In its report, the Tax Commission, under the chairmanship of Arne Skauge, says that it is very difficult to find good solutions to all the problems inherent in the current tax system, without simultaneously cutting the level of taxes. If this is not done, warns the Commission, there will continue to be significant unease in certain parts of the system. According to the report, which will be published today, the Commission is proposing substantial tax cuts in the general level of personal income tax.

Alcohol ads could come to Norway (Dagbladet)

The EEA Agreement could now open the way for alcohol advertisements in Norway. Yesterday, it became clear that the Swedes must rescind their ban on alcohol advertising. "There are good reasons why the Norwegian authorities should fall into line with the Swedish ruling. The EEA Agreement means it will have the same effect on us. It would be simply stupid if the whole thing were to be pushed to extremes here, said Jan Magne Langseth, one of Norway’s leading specialists in EU/EEA law.

Justice Minister proposes organized crime legislation

Justice Minister Odd Einar Dørum is proposing that organized crime should carry twice the penalty as non-organized crime. The Ministry of Justice has circulated a discussion paper containing proposals for amendments to the Penal Code. The proposals are part of Norway’s efforts to meet the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Transnational Crime. The discussion paper does not include a specific definition of the term "organized crime". That task is to be left up to the courts.

Government pledges to fight for differentiated employers’ contribution (Nationen)

Local Government and Regional Affairs Minister Erna Solberg does not have any immediate comfort to bring companies located in the country’s outlying areas, which are worrying about the prospect of having to pay a higher employers’ national insurance contribution. "There is probably no doubt that we cannot retain the differentiated employers’ national insurance contributions as it is today. But the Government is going to fight for the scheme," she said. On 25 March the Government is due to give its response to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), which has ordered Norway to abolish the scheme, under which employers in outlying districts pay a lower national insurance contribution than those in geographically central areas of the country.

Snow White slips through Aker Kværner’s fingers (Aftenposten)

700 employees are afraid they will lose their jobs after Aker Kværner lost the battle for a major construction contract in connection with the development of the Snow White gas field off the north-Norwegian coast. Statoil gave the contract to the Spanish yard Dragados. "The only way we could have matched their offer was to have worked without wages," said Eldar Myhre, senior union representative at Aker Kværner. The Spanish tender was NOK 1 billion lower than Aker Kværner’s. Petroleum and Energy Minister Einar Steensnæs said that Statoil had no choice, the company had to recommend the offer from Dragados.

Snowed under with hate-mail (Aftenposten)

In the past few weeks, 2,000 furious electricity consumers have sent hate-mail to Petroleum and Energy Minister Einar Steensnæs (Chr.Dem). Many of them claim that the Minister has not understood how serious the situation is, dubbing him an arrogant idiot who is incapable of action. In just five days, 8,200 people have applied for financial assistance to install heat-pumps and energy efficient wood-burning stoves. This means that almost all the NOK 50 million which was promised to help reduce the impact of the electricity crisis has been used up long before the Storting has formally approved the provision.

1. Worth Noting

• Norwegian and international experts agree; Colin Powell’s evidence is not strong enough to justify going to war, and the UN Security Council remains unconvinced.
  (Dagsavisen)
• "Being Prime Minister is a challenge right now," said Kjell Magne Bondevik. He maintains that there is only one man who can prevent a war against Iraq – Saddam Hussein. Neither Mr Bondevik nor any other heads of government believe that Saddam will change the way he behaves.
  (Dagbladet)
• "If anyone should attempt to break the rules, Norwegian legislation banning alcohol advertising still applies. It is not changed by a ruling made in a Swedish court," said Social Affairs Minister Ingjerd Schou.
  (Aftenposten)
• The Defence Ministry is thinking of extending the mission of the six Norwegian F-16 aircraft stationed in Afghanistan from six months to one year. "There have been informal discussions about possible future contributions," said Martin Lohne, a Defence Ministry spokesman.
  (Aftenposten)
• According to Development Assistance Minister Hilde Frafjord Johnson, Norway and Belgium are the only countries in the world to guarantee that the emergency aid they give to Africa is not genetically modified. Ms Frafjord Johnson was speaking at a conference on the advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified food, which was held in Oslo yesterday.
  (Aftenposten)
• Norway’s largest ever child pornography sweep has resulted in convictions for just a tiny few. Charges have been dropped in one in six cases. The majority of the 150 people who have been charged are let off with a fine.
  (Dagbladet)
• Women make the best bosses. According to a major British study, they score highest on 11 out of 14 leadership qualities, and tie with the men on the other three.
  (Dagsavisen)

2. Today’s comment from Dagbladet

Almost 640 Labour activists – both well-known and not well-known – have signed the petition ‘Social Democrats Against War’. They are demanding that Norway says no to war against Iraq, and are defying the line taken by the party leadership. The party leadership says that the petition contravenes a national conference motion stating that the party shall respect resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council. Many of those who have signed the petition were also members of ‘Social Democrats Against the EU’. At that time, the party leadership accepted the existence of an anti-EU faction within the party to avoid opponents of Norwegian EU membership defecting to other parties. This time, the party leadership and those who signed the petition agree on the goal – to avoid war. Where they disagree is on the level of resistance to that war. It is a disagreement that will be brought sharply into focus if the Iraq issue becomes the subject of debate in the Storting. At that point the dissident MPs will probably fall into line behind the party leadership. But until then, their rebelliousness will continue to exert pressure on the party leadership, and act as a training exercise for the next big battle over Norwegian membership of the EU.