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President Bolaños,
Mrs. Bolaños,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Señor Presidente, Es para mi un gran placer darle la bienvenida y recibirle aquí en Oslo (det er for meg en stor glede å ønske Dem velkommen og motta Dem her i Oslo).

Bjørg and I are very pleased and honoured to welcome you, President Bolaños, your wife and your delegation to this dinner here tonight. Your visit is a deeply appreciated confirmation of the excellent relations between Nicaragua and Norway. Your visit also confirms the tradition of political contacts at the highest level between our two countries.

I like to think that the people of Nicaragua and Norway are not so different. That we share some of your qualities. We highly value your likeable and sympathetic way of being, your sincerity, your openness and your optimism. The popular Nicaraguan singer, Katia Cardenal, has translated the Norwegian songwriter Alf Prøysen into Spanish. She says the themes of the songs find resonance in her own country, such as life in a farming community, respect for nature and the strong presence of hope and optimism in the lyrics. This is illustrated in one of Prøysen’s most cherished songs “Du skal få en dag i mårå”, or as the refrain sounds in Spanish: “Ya verás que hay un mañana, trayendo para ti crayones de colores y papel.”

As one of Norway’s partner countries for development co-operation in Latin America, Nicaragua has a special place in our hearts. Development co-operation is an important channel for showing solidarity and support for the Nicaraguan people. It is also an important channel for cultural exchange and mutual influence. It has thus benefited both our countries, and many a Norwegian has become an enthusiastic admirer of Nicaragua and its people.

I myself had the privilege and pleasure of visiting Nicaragua 14 years ago. I still have fond memories and vivid recollections of the open-hearted generosity so typical of Latin American culture. And I am impressed by the enthusiasm and courage shown by Nicaraguans in their efforts to solve the country’s problems. The strong civic spirit and democratic commitment of the Nicaraguan people gives great hope for the future.

Norway’s development co-operation is guided by our commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals. Poverty eradication, protection of our shared environment and promotion of human rights, democracy and good governance are more than national issues. It is our collective responsibility to uphold these objectives worldwide.

The development co-operation between our two countries dates back to the revolution in 1979. A great deal has happened since then, both in Nicaragua and in Central America. Armed conflict has been replaced by peace-building both in the region as a whole and in your own country. Norway has been following developments in Nicaragua closely throughout this period – under the Sandinistas, under the government of Doña Violeta Chamorro, under President Alemán and now under your own government.

We have noted with great satisfaction that under your presidency, priority has been given to the fight against corruption and the advancement of good governance. No country is immune to corruption. This is true for Norway as well. You have chosen to tackle these challenges head on. It takes great courage, and I would think also stubborn determination, to do so. It would probably have been easier to look the other way. And many people would have preferred you to do just that. Instead, you have denounced corruption, and committed yourself to ensuring transparency and restoring the credibility of the public sector. Your efforts have already been crowned with considerable success. We welcome these developments, and we have been providing assistance through the anti-corruption fund. We hope that this will assist you in your endeavours.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said that good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in the efforts to alleviate poverty and promote development. I agree with him. It is the poorest, those who are dependent on social justice, who suffer most from corruption and mismanagement. Corruption also obstructs investment and economic development. As a successful industrial engineer and businessman, you have first-hand knowledge of the importance of a sound private sector and a reliable economy. Mr President, your tireless efforts have given the Nicaraguan people new faith in the future, and they have given the international community new faith in Nicaragua.

Norwegian NGOs play an essential part in our efforts to promote development, not least when it comes to mobilising the Norwegian people. Yesterday, our annual nation-wide fund-raising campaign took place. This event has collected an average of 20 million USD every year for the past five years. This year’s proceeds will go to Save the Children, and will be used to support educational projects for children in Nicaragua and five other countries. I am sure you and your wife will approve, as I know you share our special concern for children and the family. I hope yesterday’s campaign will provide education for many children in Nicaragua. Education is a powerful tool against poverty, and a doorway to strengthening human rights in general.

In conclusion, President Bolaños, I believe Norway and Nicaragua have a great deal to offer each other. Your visit will give us an excellent opportunity to reinforce valuable contacts and strengthen the ties between our two countries.

Later this evening we will be listening to a young musician, Mr Frode Haltli, who provides a living example of contact between peoples as he plays both the tunes of our own composer Edvard Grieg and the Latin-American tango on his accordion.

I would now like to ask you all to join me in a toast to President Bolaños and Mrs Bolaños, and to the happiness and prosperity of the people of Nicaragua.