Lord Robertson, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour and a pleasure to receive you here in Oslo, Lord Robertson.

The Secretary General of NATO is always warmly welcome to Norway.

You know, you can call the windswept shores of this country, washed – like Scotland - by the North Atlantic and the North Sea, a true home.

Three days ago we were together in Rome, with President Putin, President Bush and other leaders, signing the document establishing the NATO Russia Council.

Russia’s “Alliance with the Alliance” is historic. New insecurity and new threats from international terrorism have given our bonds a new quality. You said yourself at the end of the summit in Rome, that by joining forces in the new Council, we have made the world a safer place. Big words. But – there is ground for them.

Most of all, the spirit of Rome was marked by strong calls to follow up the promise and potential which has been put on paper in Rome.

It is the practical results that count.

This was your strong message. And mine.

Russia is Norway´s neighbour. Our relationship is developing dynamically. And we face common challenges. Over the last decade, we have pioneered the opening up of a broad co-operative relationship; on the management of marine resources, the environment, energy, and the development of the economy, civil society and democracy. Together with other allies and our Russian partners we are engaged in important projects to strengthen nuclear safety and safe disposal of radioactive waste. This afternoon at a firing range in Troms, we met with the commander of a Russian brigade stationed on the Kola peninsula. It was a symbol of the new time.

Together, Secretary General, we are producing the single most important commodity on the market: Security. This is what the Alliance and Russia now have solemnly agreed to do. Build confidence. Make common security not only our vision, but our reality.

Secretary General,

We live in a world of rapidly increasing interdependence, a world where our security is directly affected by the security of others. And we live in a world of instability.

The conflicts in the Middle East and between India and Pakistan cause great concern.

And in the final instance, Secretary General, the new NATO we are creating, and the increased security it generates, will enable us to devote ourselves more fully to eradicating the roots of conflict – poverty, injustice and underdevelopment.

Secretary General,

I have spoken at some length on the new relationship with Russia.

But that is but one of the new dimensions of our evolving Alliance.

In Prague this autumn, we will invite new members to join us in shared values and shared commitments. We support a broad expansion, and we make no secret of our wish to see our Baltic neighbours as new partners.

At the summit in Washington three years ago, we launched an initiative for new defence capabilities. 11. September has added even more weight to the need to adapt our armed forces to meet new threats.

As part of this joint effort my government is now carrying out the most far-reaching reform of our defence since the end of World War II.

It is a complex process, and it comes at no little cost.

But we are determined to succeed.

Today, in Northern Norway, you have seen some of the results.

Highly specialized mobile rapid reaction units, with state of the art equipment.

These are the kind of forces we have deployed to Afghanistan and the Balkans, and that we will contribute to the crisis management capability the EU is establishing.

We see this force and an increased European capacity as an important means to strengthen transatlantic links and our alliance.

George;

You´ve said that no organization can rest on its laurels. We believe that NATO today is as central to security and protecting our values as at any time in its history. But to make it a continuing success story, we must work every day to adapt it to a fast changing world.

This country has always been a strong supporter of NATO and transatlantic solidarity. It flows from our history and from geography. We´re a westward looking country – we look to Scotland and beyond.

Tonight as we rededicate ourselves to our joint cause, I want to thank you for your commitment and the most able way in which you handle your functions as Secretary General.

I raise my glass to you and the future of our alliance.