Responsibility for coastal safety to be centralized (Aftenposten/Sunday)

Improved surveillance of Norway’s coastal shipping lanes under a more centralized organization has become an important issue following three shipping accidents in quick succession along the Norwegian coast. Environment Minister Siri Bjerke has invited representatives from five ministries (Fisheries, Defence, Trade and Industry, Petroleum and Energy, and Environment) to a meeting next week to discuss centralizing responsibility for coastal safety.

Maritime surveillance still uncertain (Aftenposten)

The establishment of a maritime surveillance centre remains uncertain, even though such a centre could improve shipping safety. NOK 20 million was allocated to a surveillance centre a couple of years ago, but there is apparently some resistance in the Headquarters Defence Command against taking on what many regard as a civilian task.

Electoral problems for labour party (Dagbladet)

The Labour Party’s lack of popularity is still a problem. Support for the party has stabilized at around 28 per cent, which is far too low. According to today’s opinion poll, carried out by market research company MMI, the party has even slipped back slightly. The Progress Party has also lost some support, but still has the backing of enough voters to make Carl I. Hagen the victor if general elections had been held today. The Labour Party has the support of 27.9 per cent of the electorate, while the Progress Party has 22.9 per cent of the voters behind it. The Conservative Party made the biggest gain, jumping 2.7 to 16.6 per cent.

Confidence in politicians falling (Dagsavisen/Saturday)

Only one in five of the population believes that politicians take any notice of the people’s views, according to the results of a recent opinion poll. The elderly and those with little education have least confidence in the parties. "These negative attitudes are the result of a large degree of frustration among the electorate," says electoral expert Henry Valen.

Join forces against violence (Aftenposten/Sunday)

500-600 second generation immigrants took part in a rally in Oslo on Saturday to protest against gang violence. They were supported by Oslo’s bishop, a former prime minister, the Justice Minister and other leading public figures.

World class nuclear research (Dagens Næringsliv/Saturday)

An international group of experts has recommended that the Government continue the Halden Project and nuclear research in Norway after 2002. According to the group, the work carried out by the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) is world class, and its continuation will ensure Norway retains its competence in the field of nuclear safety. The Halden Project has operated as part of an OECD programme since 1958.

Worth noting

• Young people between the ages of 15 and 17 are responsible for most of the violence in Norway. The number of violent offenders in this age group has tripled since 1990. (Dagsavisen)
• The Bankruptcy Court has threatened Jan Balstad, vice president of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, with arrest if he does not immediately start cooperating with the court. Among other things, Mr Balstad, who was chairman of the now bankrupt company Pandestor, has failed to appear at a meeting of creditors. (Aftenposten)
• Increasingly, Swedish doctors and nurses are leaving their jobs in Norway and returning home to Sweden. In the past three years the number of Nordic healthcare workers in Norway has fallen by 30 per cent. (Dagsavisen/Sunday)
• Conservative Party chairman Jan Petersen does not understand Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s unwillingness to discuss Norwegian EU membership. "It must be possible for us to discuss the problems we experience as non-members even though it is unlikely that we will send a new application for membership in the short term," says Mr Petersen. (Dagens Næringsliv/Saturday)
• This weekend Jan Simonsen (Progress Party) sent a memo in his own defence to the Rogaland county nomination committee. He feels confident of winning first place on their list of candidates for the next general elections. (Verdens Gang/Sunday)
• The electric car, Think, does not suit the Post Office. Last year the Postal Administration signed an agreement to purchase 250 Think cars, but now says they are not good enough. The NOK 50 million deal could be cancelled. (Nationen)
• On Monday the first three Norwegian patients will travel from Buskerud county for surgery at a hospital in Kiel, Germany. However, it would have been much cheaper to send them round the corner – to a private clinic in Drammen. (Verdens Gang/Saturday)
• The new library in Alexandria, Egypt, is nearing completion and Snøhetta, the Norwegian firm of architects who designed it, are now competing for an even bigger project – a 100,000 m ²> library in Abu Dhabi. (Verdens Gang/Sunday)
• For the first time since 1896 there will be no Norwegians taking part in the Skating World Championships. Only the 12 best competitors from the European Championships will be allowed to participate, and the best Norwegian came 13th. (All newspapers)

Today’s comment from nationen

The fact that Norway chairs the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on Iraq has led to renewed debate on the issue. Aid organizations have repeatedly warned about the impact of sanctions on the civilian population. It is claimed that up to 10,000 people per month die as a result of the sanctions – half of them children. The committee that Norway chairs has no mandate to change the sanctions, but that does not mean Norway, as a player in the international foreign policy arena, should simply stand by and let things stay the same. In relation to the EU, it is constantly being claimed that Norway must be where the decisions are made. In UN terms, Norway is perfectly placed to test this theory. As chairman of the Sanctions Committee Norway has a special responsibility to let the world know the conditions under which the Iraqi civilian population is living. The Government has the support of its own party, since the Party Conference passed a resolution calling for a change in the sanctions against Iraq. It is high time the whole issue of sanctions as a political tool was re-evaluated.