Dear Ministers and Colleagues,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be here tonight on the occasion of the official opening of the Baltic Cultural Festival in the Nordic countries. And I am of course very pleased and proud that Oslo has been chosen as venue for this event.

As a spokesperson for Nordic-Baltic cooperation and as a representative of the Nordic Council of Ministers, I am particularly honoured to attend the opening event in the presence of my colleagues from the Baltic countries - the Ministers of Culture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Although Norway is not a typical Baltic Sea state – not even from the highest mountain in Norway you will be able to catch a glimpse of the Baltic waters – we feel that we belong to the Baltic Sea family. Our countries have no common border, but we are neighbours nevertheless. Culturally speaking, I would say we are close neighbours.

Norway and the Nordic countries are strong supporters of the Baltic countries. We share a North European perspective that must be brought to bear in the wider European context. The Nordic –Baltic cooperation is an example of how regional cooperation can serve us in a new and open Europe. Regional cooperation serves as a multiplier of opportunities and benefits.

Over the centuries, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea have provided many opportunities for contact, social interaction and cultural exchange. Men and women of our countries crossed the Baltic Sea to trade and build cultural ties.

Then the drama of European history took our nations on very different paths. For decades a dividing line ran through the Baltic Sea. Separation prevented us from building relations.

Since 1990 we have embarked on a voyage of rediscovery.

It has been very gratifying to see how the Baltic countries have become full and equal members of the international community in such a short period of time. This is an achievement in which you can take great pride. And none of this would of course have taken place without a strong Baltic cultural awareness.

The Nordic countries were, as you are aware, early in recognising Baltic independence, in particular through the very early establishment of the Nordic Information Offices of the Nordic Council of Ministers. These offices have since proven themselves to be important carriers of Nordic-Baltic cultural cooperation, and very useful links between our countries.

Norway is taking over the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2002. This gives me a particular opportunity to further develop and strengthen the Nordic-Baltic dialogue in the cultural field.

On behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers and myself I wish the Baltic Cultural Festival in the Nordic countries great success.