Solid backing for Government line on Iraq (Aftenposten)

The Storting is ranged solidly behind Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik’s Iraq policy. Only the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party have protested at the Government’s "wait and see" attitude and clear support for the UN. "We warned the USA as recently as yesterday not to go to war without the backing of the UN. When the weapons inspectors’ report has been published, we shall carry out our own independent evaluation of the situation and decide how Norway will respond to any subsequent war," said Mr Bondevik. Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg’s position was closer to that of the Government than it has been for a long time. "I believe that the Government’s stance is clearer than it has previously been, for which I am glad. The UN is the cornerstone of Norwegian foreign policy," he said.

Majority wants EU referendum now (Nationen)

A substantial 55 per cent of the population want a referendum on Norwegian membership of the EU before the next general election in 2005. 35 per cent do not. Supporters of EU membership are in the biggest hurry. 75 per cent of those who support EU membership want a referendum as soon as possible. 28 per cent of EU opponents would not mind a referendum before the next election. "The impatience is probably due to the fact that the most enthusiastic supporters of EU membership now feel that they have a chance to make it happen," said Anders Todal Jenssen, political science professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim.

PM tells Euro-sceptics to chill out (Dagens Næringsliv)

Christian Democrats opposed to Norwegian membership of the EU are being pressured by the party leadership to adopt a more open attitude. Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik is calling on party workers to be prepared to take another look at the issue. "I hope everyone is willing to weigh the arguments for and against one more time. After all, the world changes and Europe changes – and, not least, the EU is changing significantly. It is by no means certain that we will arrive at another conclusion, but I think it is wise to think it through," said Mr Bondevik yesterday.

Data Inspectorate accused of impeding fight against money laundering (Aftenposten)

"Norway could become a more attractive country for money launderers if the views of the Data Inspectorate’s Georg Apenes become widely accepted," warns corruption-buster Eva Joly. She points in particular to Mr Apenes’s description of proposed new legislation as a "gossips’ charter", because it would to force anyone who may come into contact with people attempting to turn black money into white, including lawyers, to report what they regard as suspicious transactions to the authorities. "The new legislation would provide society with a little more protection and infringes no human rights. It is not a human right to pay large amounts in cash without anyone reacting, when the rest of the transaction seems highly suspicious," said Ms Joly.

Norwegians want more modern power generation (Dagsavisen)

A majority of Norwegians wants the authorities to support the modernization of the country’s hydro-electric power stations. "Modernization will help to ensure regularity of supply. People will then not have to worry about whether there is enough power in the market or whether the price will rise as much as it did this year," said Axel Collett, head of the Norwegian Energy Industry Association (EBL). The authorities do not currently provide financial assistance for modernization programmes. However, 61 per cent of those questioned in a survey said that hydro-electric power should receive financial assistance in the same way as wind power projects.

Norwegian oil industry slams on brakes (Aftenposten)

Norsk Hydro is slashing 300 jobs in its oil and gas business. Trade unions fear further job losses because exploration activity on the Norwegian continental shelf is at rock bottom. Last year, oil companies found less than they produced, and the Petroleum Directorate has adjusted its oil and gas reserve estimates downwards for the first time in years. The development of the Ormen Lange and Snow White fields will be completed in 2007. By then there will be almost no projects in the pipeline, unless new discoveries are made in the immediate future. "I takes four to five years from a discovery being made until a field is developed. That is why little exploration and few finds now have a serious impact on activity levels in the future," said rig broker Knut Frøystad.

Fears that Norsk Hydro cutbacks could rebound (Dagens Næringsliv)

Senior union representative Kjell Kvinge at Norsk Hydro fears that the company could be damaging its own interests on the Norwegian continental shelf. His concerns were prompted by the announcement yesterday by Tore Torvund, head of Hydro Oil and Energy, that the company was cutting 300 jobs. Hydro Oil and Energy has decided to concentrate its entire exploration organization in Oslo, leaving only four people behind in Harstad. "We are wondering whether this is a politically wise move. Norsk Hydro has decided to close the only remaining focus area," said Mr Kvinge.

Power elite votes Socialist Left (Dagsavisen)

According to the latest poll by AC Nielsen, the Socialist Left Party scores as well among the highly educated as the Conservatives – attracting a quarter of the vote. 21 per cent of the highly educated vote Labour, while 13 per cent of them vote Progress Party. The Conservative Party has long been the party of choice for the power elite, measured in terms of its voters’ education, professional status and income level. But no more. The Labour Party scores best among the older voters, while the Progress Party is more popular among the young – particularly young men.

1. Worth Noting

• The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) is demanding a clear mandate from the UN Security Council before the use of armed force against Iraq can be condoned. The USA has no right to start a war by itself. This is the main thrust of a statement issued by the LO yesterday.
  (NTB)
• 48 per cent of voters in the north of Norway are in favour of Norway joining the EU. At the 1994 referendum, only 28 per cent of voters in the country’s three most northern counties supported EU membership.
  (Nordlys)
• Labour’s Trond Giske says that Norway must refuse to participate in a war in Iraq – even if the UN should sanction a military operation. Party leader Jens Stoltenberg says it is far to early to comment at this stage. Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik admits he thinks the Iraq crisis is perhaps the most difficult issue he has had to cope with as premier.
  (Dagbladet)
• More and more people are carrying a personal alarm in order to feel safe. These include women who have been threatened by their ex-partners, witnesses in the trials of hard-boiled criminals and police officers against whom serious threats have been made. Last year 987 people were issued with a personal alarm in this country. In January this year alone, 95 more people were added to the list of those with personal alarms.
  (Dagbladet)
• Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss is currently making a heroic effort to talk down the Norwegian exchange rate, in an effort to rescue the country’s export industry. He thinks the Norwegian krone will fall "in the longer term".
  (Dagsavisen)
• According to Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss, things went "dreadfully wrong" during last year’s national wage negotiations. As a result the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) have got the high interest rates and tremendously strong Norwegian currency that they deserve.
  (Aftenposten)
• Charles Tjessem was yesterday chosen as the winner of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition. Once again, the world’s best chef is Norwegian.
  (All newspapers)

2. Today’s comment from Dagsavisen

The Norwegian people’s deep-seated opposition to war in Iraq is now being clearly vocalized in the Storting. During yesterday’s question time in the Storting, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party attacked the Prime Minister, and demanded that the Government take a clearer, more critical stance with regard to the USA’s plans for war. The Labour Party is divided on the issue, though the party’s official line yesterday was that Labour stands behind the Government’s insistence on pursuing the UN track to the end. Yesterday’s question time signalled that the Government cannot depend on the full support of the Storting for Norwegian participation in a war against Iraq. It will make it even more difficult for the Government to order Norwegian involvement in the war. Before the Government can make a decision of such fundamental importance to the country, it would need the backing of a practically unanimous Storting as well as an overwhelming majority of the people. Today, neither of those preconditions is present.