Prime Minister;

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you and your delegation to Norway. Our talks this morning confirmed that we see eye to eye on major bilateral and international issues. I want to thank you again for your hospitality during our visit to Poland in October last year. Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will visit both Warsaw and Cracow from 30 May to 1 June. I know that they are very much looking forward to their visit.

The Crown Prince and I took part in the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in January. The participation of numerous heads of state and government in this event underlined the international community’s resolve that such atrocities must never happen again.

Historically there are strong bonds between our two countries. Norway and Poland were allies during the Second World War. We fought side-by-side against occupation and repression. Poland´s great contribution in the Battle of Narvik in 1940 is remembered with gratitude and admiration in Norway.

Norway and Poland also maintained contact during the cold war. Your struggle for freedom was closely followed and widely supported by the Norwegian people.

In January 1989 I went to Gdansk, where I had the opportunity to meet Lech Walesa. It was a memorable occasion. Lech Walesa told me that, when in Warsaw, I should look up Mr. Mazowiezky. We then met in my hotel in Warsaw, and I sensed that many changes were under way. A few months later mr. Mazowiezky was Prime Minister in Poland! And Walesa became the President.

Future generations will not only associate Poland with famous historical names such as Copernicus, Madam Curie and Chopin. The late Pope John Paul II will always be a symbol of the Polish people´s courage and vision. I met Pope John Paul in the Vatican in April 2003 and will always treasure the memory. When I attended his funeral, I was struck by all the people holding polish flags on the Peter square and the large number of visitors from all over the world. John Paul II was indeed admired and loved by people on every continent.

I am pleased to say that today our two countries share more common ground than ever. We are committed to the objectives of security, stability, prosperity and sustainable development. We are allies in NATO. We are partners in many important international organisations. Our political contacts and dialogue are closer than ever before. I am looking forward to the summit meeting of the Council of Europe in Warsaw next month.

Norwegians not only think of Poland as an old nation with proud traditions – but, increasingly, as a vigorous young nation. Our bilateral economic cooperation is dynamic. Norwegian companies have invested more than 600 million US dollars in Poland. Norway and Poland are partners in the European Economic Area and thereby part of the same internal market. This creates new opportunities for economic co-operation, trade and investment. We must make maximum use of this to the benefit of our countries and peoples.

The implementation of projects under the EEA Financial Mechanisms will bring benefits in important areas such as protection of the environment, health, and childcare. These projects will also help Poland as it prepares for Schengen membership.

Poland is an important market for Norwegian seafood, including salmon. A large part of this salmon is processed in Poland and re-exported, mostly to other EU countries.

We cooperate extensively in the maritime sector. Polish shipyards have built a large number of ships and hulls for the Norwegian shipping fleet. Furthermore, approximately 5 000 Polish sailors, including a considerable number of officers, currently work on board Norwegian ships. I am pleased that several prominent representatives from the Polish maritime sector have joined you on this visit. I hope that this will further enhance our cooperation.

Poland is an interesting market for Norwegian gas. Further gas deliveries from Norway to Poland should be of mutual benefit for our countries. It will be up to the commercial actors, to assess the possibilities of supplying gas to Poland. Natural gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels. Replacing other fossil fuels with natural gas will have a positive environmental impact.

The relations between our two countries are based on much more than political and commercial interests. Poland is not only competitive in economic terms, but also in sports. It is tough for us Norwegians to be beaten again and again in our beloved sport ski-jumping by Adam Malysz

In closing, I understand there is a polish proverb that says; “To taste good a fish must swim three times, in water, in butter and then in wine”.

I think the Norwegian seafood you have been served today has passed this test. I hereby propose a toast to the excellent relations between Poland and Norway!

Na zdrowie !