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    Ten years of Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation

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    Published under: Bondevik's 2nd Government

    Publisher: The Office of the Prime Minister

    Press release | No: 192-02 | Date: 16/12/2002 | Last updated: 23/10/2006

    Press release

    No.: 192/2002
    Date: 16 December 2002

    Ten years of Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation
    to be celebrated in Kirkenes 10-11 January


    On Friday 10 and Saturday 11 January 2003, 10 years of Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation will be celebrated in Kirkenes in Northern Norway, where the project was launched on 11 January 1993. Participants will be the Nordic Prime Ministers Kjell Magne Bondevik (Norway), Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Denmark), Paavo Lipponen (Finland), Göran Persson (Sweden) and David Oddsson (Iceland); Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Kasianov and leading representatives of the EU Presidency and the EU Commission. Present will also be representatives of the Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Russian regions participating in the cooperation, and of aboriginal peoples in the Barents region.

    Former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Thorvald Stoltenberg, central in constructing the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation in 1993, will also participate.

    On Friday evening 10 January and Saturday morning 11 January celebrations will take place aboard the newest Norwegian coastal ship, the “MS Trollfjord”, in Kirkenes harbour. The “Trollfjord” normally sails the route Kirkenes-Bergen. On Saturday afternoon 11 January celebrations will continue at the Kirkenes Borderland Museum, where participants will experience “arctic tableaus” in the wintry dusk.


    To the editor:
    Press contact for the celebration is Øivind Østang, head of information, Prime Minister’s Office in Oslo: phone +47 22 24 40 37/+47 91 34 64 70 or oivind.ostang@smk.dep.no . Press contact for the Swedish presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation in 2003 is Jan Larsson, press chief, Prime Minister’s Office in Stockholm: phone +46 70 59 33 412 or jan.larsson@primeminister.ministry.se .

    Press intending to cover celebrations in Kirkenes should on Monday 6 January 2003 the latest seek accreditation via the press and information section of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: phone +47 22 24 31 41/49 or www.akkreditering.mfa.no, or press@mfa.no .

    Press should also indicate whether they will want to book a cabin aboard the “Trollfjord” for the night 10-11 January, and whether they will want to book a seat on a chartered plane Oslo-Kirkenes on Friday morning 10 January and/or Kirkenes-Oslo on Saturday afternoon 11 January. (The regular plane Oslo-Kirkenes on 10 January leaves at 10.10 am, on Saturday 11 January there is no regular plane connection Kirkenes-Oslo after 12.50 pm.)

    The programme for the celebration of the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation at present looks as follows:

    Friday 10 January:

    ... am

    Departure from Oslo Airport Gardermoen for accredited press with seats on chartered plane to Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen.:

    From 1.00 pm

    Check-in for accredited press on the “MS Trollfjord”, in Kirkenes harbour

    ...pm

    Arrival at Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen for accredited press on charter plane from Oslo Airport Gardermoen. Transport to the“Trollfjord” in Kirkenes harbour.

    Afternoon:

    Prime ministers arriving at Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen by separate planes, for transportation to the ”Trollfjord” in Kirkenes harbour.
    Photo opportunity for accredited press at the airport, in the harbour and in reception area on deck 4.

    6.00 pm

    ”Visions and Realities”.
    Celebration in Valhall Amphitheatre aboard the “MS Trolfjord”. Barents Chamber Orchestra will perform, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Thorvald Stoltenberg will be among the speakers, and Norwegian soprano Marianne Hirsti will present Sami romances. Open to accredited press.

    7.30 pm

    Working reception in Panorama Lounge on deck 8, for prime ministers, EU-representatives, representatives of the Barents regions and aboriginal peoples, and representatives of observer states.
    Photo opportunity for press pool at opening.

    8.30 pm:

    Jubilee dinner in Saga Hall on deck 5.
    Accredited press invited.
    Photo opportunities for press pool

    Saturday 11 January:

    9.30 am:

    Barents Euro-Arctic summit meeting, in Espolin Johnson room on deck 8, for prime ministers and EU representatives.Photo opportunity for press pool at opening.

    11.15 am:

    Press conference with prime ministers and EU representatives, inValhall Amphiteatre on deck 5.

    11.45 am:

    Transport for accredited press from the “Trollfjord” to Kirkenes Borderland Museum.

    12 noon:

    Participants in the celebrations aboard the “Trollfjord” arrive at Kirkenes Borderland Museum at Hesseng.

    12.15 pm: opening of exhibition “Migration2
    12.30 pm: presentation of Sami life and culture, lunch in lavvoes
    1.45 pm: theatre group Samovarungan performs outdoor
    Access for accredited press.

    From 2.00 pm:

    Departure from Borderland Museum for participants leaving by separate planes from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen.

    ... pm:

    Departure from Borderland Museum for accredited press holding seats on chartered plane from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen to Oslo airport Gardermoen.

    ... pm:

    Departure from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen to Oslo Airport Gardermoen for accredited press holding seats on chartered plane.

    ... pm:

    Arrival at Oslo Airport Gardermoen for accredited press holding seats on chartered plane from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen.

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