Mr. President,

Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

Dramatic changes have taken place in Yugoslavia.
A democratic revolution.
A new chapter in Yugoslavia’s history has begun.

This is of the utmost importance for the people of Yugoslavia.
It is of the utmost importance for the people of Europe.

It is therefore a great pleasure for me to welcome you today as Yugoslavia’s president, elected by your people and representing the forces of democracy.

Your country, and the whole region, has undergone terrible trials.
The people have suffered.
But the people rose to the occasion.
They have taken back their democratic rights.

The elections in Croatia signalled a change in the political climate.
This was confirmed by the elections in Yugoslavia.
The people voted against despotism and corruption.
They chose democracy, economic development, human rights and international cooperation.

On behalf of the Norwegian Government I congratulate the people of Yugoslavia.

And I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your courage and your vision.
You were the right man in the right place at the right time.

Yugoslavia’s future has begun.
And you are not alone.
The international community supports democracy and development in Yugoslavia.
And Norway will be on your side.

You are facing enormous challenges.
The transition will be hard.
Difficult and painful choices lie ahead.

Peace is more than the absence of war.
Human rights must be firmly anchored in government and among the people.
Wounds must be healed.
People must be reconciled.
As you said this morning – people must learn how to make compromises.

It will take time and it will be hard.
But we know that this is the right road.
You have every painful proof that the alternative is so much worse.

If all the forces of good will join together there is every prospect of success.
The people of the Balkans are creative.
They are used to working hard and finding solutions.
Yugoslavia is a country with great resources.
Europe expects to see these qualities bloom.

Gradually, the economic embargo and the sanctions against Yugoslavia are being lifted. Reconstruction has begun.

Today we have promised to play a leading role in the efforts to make Yugoslavia a full member of the International Monetary Fund. It is a forceful step back to the international community.

We have promised our aid – and you have promised to use that aid in a way that matters quickly; child allowances to the neediest families, delivery of heating fuel and immediate humanitarian support to refugees.

Then we need to get on with normal relations.
Normal trade.
Normal exchange.
Normal cooperation.

Today, your delegation met with the heads of a number of leading Norwegian companies, who are also represented here this evening.

We want a rapid start for investment and trade.
We want tourists to be able to return to their favourite destinations.
We want people to get to know each other again.
Both our countries have everything to gain from this.

Mr. President,

The Norwegian and the Yugoslav peoples have long been close.
Strong ties of friendship were formed during the Second World War.
We shared the same fate for many sad years.

Yugoslav prisoners of war suffered in camps. They were forced to build roads in the north of Norway. We still call them the "Roads of blood". Many of the ties formed during those years have been kept up and still exist. One of those who suffered then is with us tonight.

He reminds us that we stood together during a fateful time in Europe’s history.

This has not been the case in recent years.
We have been on different sides.
But now we can begin the work of putting this behind us.
Now we can begin together on the path towards a new partnership.
Your visit to Norway is a clear expression of your willingness to begin on this path.

Europe’s future is Norway’s future.

We too have a responsibility for peace in the Balkans and peace in Europe. We have been – we are – and we will remain heavily involved in peacekeeping efforts in the region.

Twelve hundred Norwegian soldiers are currently in Kosovo. Norwegian women and men serve to promote peaceful co-existence between ethnic groups. And from March the international forces in Kosovo will be led by a Norwegian general.

Mr. President,

Your visit has a special meaning for me personally.
I spent three years of my childhood in Belgrade.
I played at Kalemegdan.
I learned how to ski in the parks of Belgrade.
Yugoslavia became a second home.
I met people who became friends and part of my family.

It was unthinkable for me that our two countries should once come into conflict with each other. But it happened, at a crossroads for human rights in Europe.

Now we are re-establishing our ties.

There is an old Norwegian saying: "It is on the law that the country shall be built" - "Med lov skal landet bygges".

You told me this morning that democracy is a young child in your country.
Your task now is to raise that child.

You are known to be a man of principle.
As a lawyer you are concerned about law and justice.
As a European you know the costs and the rewards of respecting human rights.

Now you are starting on the reconstruction of your country.
Yugoslavia re-enters the European family – with rights and obligations.

Europe expects to see the installation of the rule of law and a systematic respect for human rights and dignity.

In return you can expect our committed support - our aid and our partnership.

I would like to propose a toast to Yugoslavia’s new president, Dr. Vojislav Kostunica,
to the people of Yugoslavia and,
to the ties between our two countries and to peace in Europe.