Increased threat of terrorism in Norway (Dagbladet)

"Norway must expect the risk of terrorist attacks in Norway to increase following yesterday’s US-led air strikes against Afghanistan," said Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Mr Stoltenberg said that the USA had a crystal clear right to defend itself, and gave the military offensive his full support. Mr Stoltenberg said that no specific information regarding a possible threat to Norway had been received, but underlined that Norway – like all the other Nato allies – must be prepared to face an increased risk of terrorist attack.

Hagen demands more than just talks with Bondevik (Aftenposten/Saturday)

Kjell Magne Bondevik disarmed a potential time bomb which could have destroyed his efforts to form a government yesterday when he gave Carl I. Hagen a complete briefing on the state of negotiations between the coalition partners. But Mr Hagen wants more – much more. There is little doubt that Mr Hagen is becoming seriously annoyed. Mr Hagen denies that Mr Bondevik and he discussed the issue of the Presidency of the Storting. "It was not mentioned. We discussed one issue which had to do with the constituting of the Storting, but it was not about the Presidency," he said.

Progress Party threatens new government if Hagen squeezed out (Aftenposten/Sunday)

The battle for the Presidency of the Storting is gathering momentum, though Carl I. Hagen now seems to have no chance. However, the Progress Party is fighting tooth and nail on his behalf, even threatening to vote against a Bondevik-led government. Representatives of the other parties doubt that the threats are real, since Mr Hagen has publicly said his aim is to ensure a new government comes into power. It is thought that the primary goal of the Progress Party activists is to demonstrate the party’s political power and attract some publicity.

Humiliated Hagen threatens to cause chaos (Dagsavisen)

The Conservatives, Liberals and Christian Democrats have snubbed Carl I. Hagen. The three parties have said they want Labour’s Jørgen Kosmo to become the new President of the Storting. The insult could provoke the Progress Party into delaying the change of government, or scuppering it altogether. "I feel personally humiliated," said an exasperated Carl I. Hagen. Several observers have said they do not think the Progress Party can support a government which has treated the party in this way. Tomorrow the Progress Party leadership is due to discuss whether they will let the party’s national committee vote on the political platform negotiated by the Conservatives, Liberals and Christian Democrats. In that case it will be the Progress Party’s national committee meeting, to be held on 20 October, which will decide whether Norway gets a new government.

Norway barred from EU’s anti-terrorism drive (Aftenposten/Sunday)

While the EU’s joint efforts to combat terrorism are becoming more and more coordinated, Norway is being excluded from the new measures to be implemented. At the end of last week the EU’s permanent ambassadors gave the thumbs down for Norwegian participation in the EU’s collaboration on legal affairs. Among the new measures which will not be discussed with Norway is the creation of a special arrest warrant that will be valid throughout Europe, even though this measure falls within the scope of the Schengen Agreement.

NOK 16 million found (Dagbladet/Sunday)

Den norske Bank (DnB) in Oslo discovered that NOK 16 million was circulating through four different accounts belonging to Somali aid organizations. With the backing of the National Police Security Service (POT) and foreign intelligence agencies, the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime mounted simultaneous raids on 13 addresses. Norwegian police believe that some of the money from Norwegian-based Somalis may have been channelled to terrorist organizations.

Somalis claim they do not fund terrorists (Dagsavisen/Sunday)

"We are not providing financial support to terrorists," said Abdi Daha Mohamed from Somalia. The Somali community in Norway is in shock after seven people were yesterday remanded in custody on suspicion of channelling funds to international terrorist organizations. Two of the aid organizations which are now under police investigation act as banks for the Somali community. Through these organizations it is possible for Somalis living in Norway to send money home to their families in a country in which the banking system has broken down.

Kværner shares unacceptable as loan collateral (Aftenposten)

Den norske Bank (DnB) has decided that it will no longer accept Kværner’s shares as collateral for loans to customers. In September it was possible to take out a loan corresponding to 70 per cent of the market value of Kværner’s shares. "Kværner’s share price fluctuated so much in September that the lending percentage has been reduced to zero," said Bjørn Ekstrøm of DnB Investorservice.

Worth Noting

• Kristin Halvorsen, chairman of the Socialist Left Party, fears that the attacks on Afghanistan could lead to more people joining terrorist organizations. The other party leaders have given their full support to the USA. (Dagbladet)

• The Socialist Left Party’s election success has gained the party a place in the Storting’s Presidium. But none of the party’s 23 MPs wants the job. (Verdens Gang/Sunday)
• A record number of people have applied for political asylum in Norway. In the past two months alone, over 4,000 new asylum seekers have arrived in the country. The Immigration Directorate expects to receive 16,000 applications this year. This is twice as many as the authorities originally anticipated. (Vårt Land/Saturday)
• Norsk Hydro’s board of directors will decide on Friday whether to close down the company’s magnesium production facilities at Herøya. Senior employee representative Kjell Kvinge fears that the decision to close the plant has already been taken, and that the timing of the announcement has been chosen to ensure the least possible interference from political quarters. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Kjell Inge Røkke’s Aker Maritime has called for a full investigation into Kværner’s financial crisis. Kværner’s chairman, Harald Arnkværn, says that such an investigation would get in the way of the company’s efforts to put together a share issue. (Dagens Næringsliv/Saturday)
• Cuts in interest rates abroad are beginning to affect interest rates in Norway. The money market interest rate has started to fall. The banks have already made significant cuts in their fixed interest rates, and now the floating rate looks set to fall, too. (Dagbladet/Saturday)

Today’s comment from Dagsavisen

The military action which the world has been waiting for since 11 September started yesterday. The USA and the UK initiated the war in Afghanistan by bombing military installations and communication lines. All the signs point to this being the start of a prolonged offensive against the Taliban regime and the bases Osama bin Laden has been allowed to establish in the country. Loss of life on all sides is unavoidable. The world is entering an extremely difficult period, in which there is a significant danger of instability and growing conflict. The war against terrorism can never be won by military might, but only by a coordinated attack in which all possible means are brought to bear. Diplomatically the terrorists must be isolated. Financially they must be starved of funds. Politically the arguments which contribute to the recruitment of terrorists must lose their validity. But the struggle must always be waged in a way that does not infringe human rights, democracy, liberty and openness. It is first and foremost these values which are the target of the terrorists’ attacks. If we allow these values to be compromised, the terrorists will have won after all.