INFLUENCED SLEIPNER REPORT (Aftenposten)

Prior to the publication of the report by the official inquiry into the sinking of the high-speed ferry "Sleipner" last year, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate was given access to some of the inquiry’s conclusions. This was in stark contrast to the accident inquiry’s publicly stated practice. Following a conversation between the inquiry’s chairman Arild O. Eidesen and the Directorate, the inquiry’s criticism was toned down. At least six points in the report were altered, but Mr Eidesen denies that the inquiry changed its point of view. He says that the report was corrected only after the inquiry had checked the facts.

DANES THREATEN HELICOPTER PURCHASE (Aftenposten)

Denmark’s armed forces have initiated secret negotiations to buy helicopters outside the joint Nordic helicopter purchasing programme. For years Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland have been working towards a joint purchasing agreement for 100 helicopters worth a total of more than NOK 20 billion. The Danes are secretly negotiating with an outsider in the final round, the British/Italian consortium EH Industries, which produces the EH 101 helicopter. "We were aware of this development. Three out of four Nordic countries working together is the next best alternative," says Major General Ivar Gjetnes.

MUM WORKS LESS, DAD WORKS MORE (Nationen)

The introduction of an additional cash benefit for children between the ages of one and three has led to a reduction in the number of mothers working full time. Before the reform 33 per cent of eligible mothers worked full time, while 31 per cent worked part time. A year later 36 per cent worked part time, while 31 per cent were in full-time employment. Ninety-two per cent of fathers work full time, a rise of two per cent. Children and Family Affairs Minister Karita Bekkemellom Orheim calls the scheme crazy as long as Norway has a shortage of labour.

NORWAY BEST IN BATTLE AGAINST MAD COW DISEASE (Verdens Gang)

According to the EU Norway is top-of-the-class when it comes to combating mad cow disease. Nowhere else in the world is it less likely that the deadly disease will break out. "It is reassuring that imports of beef are so small," says Gunnar Jodfald, head of the Norwegian Food Control Authority. Most beef imports come from southern Africa, where there have been no reported cases of mad cow disease. "But we have no guarantee that the cause of the disease is not present here," says Eivind Liven, head of the Norwegian Animal Health Authority.

NORWEGIAN FOOD AMONG THE CHEAPEST IN EUROPE (Dagbladet)

According to a survey of eight European countries that looked at how long we have to work to afford a standard basket of food, Norway is the third cheapest. The Danes must work almost one hour more than us, while the Swedes have to work five minutes more. Just three years ago we had to work 38 minutes more than them. Finland and the Netherlands are cheaper than Norway.

WORTH NOTING

1. So far this year 40 more rapes have been reported in the country’s five largest cities. "Women have greater confidence in the police and the legal system," says Tove Smaadahl, who heads the Women’s Refuge Secretariat. However, it is estimated that the number of rapes which go unreported is still high. (Dagsavisen)
2. Tomorrow, just days after the collapse of the international climate negotiations, the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) will give the go-ahead for a gas-fired power station in Skogn, North Trøndelag. This will put Norway at the bottom of the climate class, according to the newspaper. (Aftenposten)
3. One in four Norwegians is afraid to drive in tunnels. In particular we are frightened by the thought of fire and the danger of on-coming traffic. (Nationen)
4. On Monday King Harald officially opened the world’s longest road tunnel, the 24,510 metre long Lærdal Tunnel between Aurdal and Lærdal in the county of Sogn and Fjordene. (NTB)
5. According to Kristen Nygaard, leader of the campaign to keep Norway out of the EU, Labour Party chairman Thorbjørn Jagland’s strategy is to keep nagging on about the EU in the media until there is a strong pro-EU feeling in the country. The media have journalists keen to avenge past defeats and sulking diplomats to help them in the battle to turn public opinion in favour the EU. (Klassekampen)
6. The Norwegian Postal Administration is not happy with how the sale of Telenor is progressing. However, Telenor will not release any interim sales figures. At the same time, some Swedish lawyers are claiming that the discount given on the share price contravenes the EEA Agreement. (Dagens Næringsliv)
7. Princess Märta Louise has criticized lazy parents who leave their children to watch large amounts of television or videos. She wants parents to take the time to read fairy tales to their children, and has joined the battle to ensure that the fairy tale retains a central place in Norway’s cultural heritage. (Dagbladet)

TODAY’S COMMENT FROM DAGENS NÆRINGSLIV

Progress Party chairman Carl I. Hagen has begun his purge of elected officials in the party’s Oslo branch. So far he has not received much praise for his efforts. People both inside and outside the party have difficulty understanding what the Oslo branch’s leader Dag Danielsen and his fellow officials have actually done wrong. Parts of the Oslo branch are a shade more sceptical towards immigrants than the party leader. The purge is therefore being interpreted as an attempt to make the party more acceptable as a government coalition partner. The trouble is that Mr Hagen must have the support of the Christian Democrats if he is to get into office. And the Christian Democrats are not particularly impressed by the current purge. So Mr Hagen risks losing both the chance of a major success in next autumn’s general election and important alliance partners afterwards.

Nevertheless it would be foolish to believe that Mr Hagen has lost his political acumen. Popular right-wing parties in Europe have been vulnerable to internal dissension, which has caused most damage in the aftermath of an electoral defeat. The fact that Mr Hagen has struck while the party is near the top of the polls may therefore be a wiser move than it looks. At the same time Mr Hagen is, perhaps unconsciously, following a significant political trend. Analysts are predicting that parties will become more like foundations than mass movements, where the members’ most important task is to fight electoral campaigns and choose the party leaders. Interestingly enough, one of Mr Hagen’s complaints against the opposition is that they are simply thirsting for "well-paid positions".

It is not certain that Mr Hagen will succeed, but taking the view that he is trying to impose old-fashioned Stalinism on the Progress Party is not very productive. His strategy might just as easily be interpreted as an attempt to adjust to the political demands of the 21 ^st> century.

NOREG