Mr. Secretary-General !
Students of the University of Oslo
Ladies and Gentlemen !

It is an honour for us all to receive the Secretary General of the United Nations in Oslo. And it is a special honour to welcome you here at the University of Oslo on this very day of inauguration.

You have, Mr. Secretary General brought enlightened leadership to the United Nations. You have brought wisdom and a soft spoken effectiveness to the world’s highest public office.

Norway warmly congratulates you on your re-election for a second term as Secretary-General.

Today you come to us directly from the Norwegian mountains. I can assure you that our mountains are proud to have you walking among them - and on top of them.

Many Norwegians agree with you that the mountains offer a unique setting for both reflection and relaxation. Whenever you so wish – the mountains stand ready to welcome you back.

The University is another setting for reflection on one of the most critical issues of our times: How do we cope with the challenges of globalisation and what we can do to bring benefits and opportunities to all?

Let us be honest: World leaders are struggling to shape the debate on globalisation – what it implies and how it can be met.

We are searching in a state of confusion. The images of turmoil in the streets of Seattle, Gothenburg and Genova send mixed messages of protest and anger.

Yes – there is anger, protest and many questions. But there are not that many valid answers. But nobody can fail to see how global issues now matter for people’s daily lives.

Global issues trigger global response.

Global issues are forcefully coming on to the table of decision makers. And we are seeing that it is far from enough to limit these debates to the scene of the nation state alone.

We need a much broader exchange on the forces that drive globalisation.

We need a much wider debate on how we can exercise democratic control of changes that deeply shape our lives.

We need drivers of this debate that can speak on behalf of the many, and not only the powerful few.

We need to lend our ears to all those who do not have access to the microphones of the global TV stations or the world wide web.

In short: Never before have we felt a more pressing need for a strong United Nations.

A United Nations living up to its broad mandate and taking on leadership in a world that needs a powerful voice on behalf of human values, human rights and human development.

This is not the time to cut support for the United Nations and its agencies.

On the contrary – this is the time to recommit to the UN, its universal values and to invest in its future.

It is indeed a paradox: Today, we have the means to do away with hunger, disease and poverty – in ways never before possible.

But the truth is - not enough is being done.

You have, Mr. Secretary-General, argued the case for collective responsibility for global challenges.

We need to meet common challenges with common responsibility.

We must safeguard public funding for development.

My Government is committed to continue a high level of development assistance. We are doing away with barriers to trade from developing countries. And we are slashing debt from the poorest countries.

At the same time we need to encourage new public-private partnerships. We need to mobilise increased resources for fighting poverty. And we must trigger imagination and talent for development.

One such initiative is the combined effort to help immunize every child in the world. Norway actively supports this initiative.

Today 30 million children are not immunized. As a consequence 3 million of them will die from diseases that we have the means to protect them against.

This is now changing. New vaccines are reaching new groups of children.

This is a result of joint commitment: The UN family, the World bank, governments and the private sector – are responding to the call by the Secretary General to join our forces.

Today we have added another partner to this mission. The world’s leading Olympic athletes are joining us in active support for immunization.

Olympic Aid – founded by Norwegian speed skater Johann Olav Koss – will put immunization at the core of its efforts in the years to come, raising the flag at events such as the upcoming Olympic games at Salt Lake City.

Norway will support this effort by Olympic Aid. This is a good way of joining forces in putting the world’s children first, and recognising that health is a key to development.

Mr. Secretary General,

The UN can provide a framework for addressing these critical issues.

But so can also the member states. That is why we have taken advantage of your visit to convene this seminar.

My Government has initiated a broad research project on globalisation and governance. The aim of this initiative is to fund research. It is to provide a knowledge base for policy and to move beyond description. It is to suggest new measures and to stimulate public debate and participation

This meeting is part of this ambition.

The forces of globalisation will shape economies and societies. The issue is: How do we influence these forces, towards our shared aims?

We have a deep moral duty to put the forces of human creativity to serious work for human dignity and well being - all over the world.

It is an agenda we wish to pursue together with you and the other partners of the UN family.

Mr. Secretary General, we are looking forward to hearing your views on these issues, which we know are close to your heart.