Ladies and gentlemen,

I have been in politics for more than 30 years. A guiding light throughout my political life has been to work for the improvement of human rights, abroad and at home. As prime minister, I will measure my success according to the efforts that I and my Government lay down in promoting human rights and in improving the living conditions of our fellow man.

I have followed the Norwegian Helsinki Committee since the start 25 years ago. Therefore, I am particularly privileged to be present tonight to greet the Committee and to celebrate two and a half decades of achievement.

You do an admirable and not always popular job. I was a member of the advisory board in the early phase of the Committee’s existence. I look back upon this with great pride. Today, I continue to be a supporting member.

I got involved in order to support the Committee’s work to bring relief to dissident groups that were persecuted because of their religious beliefs or personal conscience in Eastern Europe. Because of my enduring faith in bridging the gaps that still divide Europe, through information and education, I remain in your ranks.

At the time of the founding of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the East-West divide seemed eternal. Momentous change happened. One half of Europe was finally liberated. Yet, still today, the call for a Helsinki watch remains. New as well as old challenges confront us. There is a continuing need for the Helsinki Committee.

It is a great privilege that representatives of so many countries and institutions are able to be here and celebrate. I particularly pay my respect to President Beriz Belkic, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as former Bosnian prime minister Haris Silajdzic. I salute your continued efforts to promote the respect for human individuals and the cause of human dignity.

I welcome that human rights carry more weight than perhaps ever before in international politics. The cooperation between many governments and non-governmental organisations has been pivotal in strengthening the international human rights regime. Telling examples are the Land Mine Convention and the establishment of the International Criminal Court as recently as July this year.

The ICC has met with difficulties. I hope and trust these difficulties can be resolved. The events of 11 September last year and our common efforts against international terrorism underline the importance of human rights. Strong human rights institutions like the International Criminal Court will be central tools, also in the prosecution of terrorists.

And the fact remains: Protecting human rights and promoting democracy are the best defences against terror.

The close links between my Government and the many NGOs involved in human rights are fruitful. Even though such cooperation is at times complicated, I am convinced that these links have benefited our common cause.

I look forward to continued close collaboration with the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. We need your advice and expertise, we need your influence, and we need your contacts.

Together, we will continue our efforts to help our fellow man, be that in the new democracies of Southeast Europe, in former Soviet republics, or farther afield.

I bring my Government’s and my own congratulations on the anniversary of the Committee. Well done. And good luck.