Norwegian government welcomes Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, to Norway

Mr Støre: I have called you this morning to just make a remark on different mentions that have been made in international media about the upcoming visit of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon to Norway. And my message is here to reiterate that we are looking forward to welcome the Secretary General to Norway, to Oslo, to Svalbard, a week from now.  

Mr Støre: Norway has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations. And we have always supported the United Nation’s Secretary General. We believe that this is more important now than ever, given the challenges that faces the world community. A quick look at the program of the Secretary General that we have planned and envisaged during his three day visit, will explain why this is such an important visit. It will include a visit to the Arctic ice rim, and highlight the effect of climate change and give us a framework for our discussion on how we approach the upcoming summit in Copenhagen.  

Mr Støre: I simply like to say that in these trying times of multiple crisis – financial, climate change, poverty, security - the call for international leadership has never been greater. I have noticed with interest that according to a review [PEW global attitudes project poll], 61 prosent of Americans - up from 48 prosent two years ago – now hold a favourable view of the United Nations. Also in Norway there is a strong bipartisan support for the UN. And supporting the UN is and has been and will remain a cornerstone of Norwegian foreign policy. So I think there is a growing understanding internationally that we need the United Nations. We will therefore discuss with the Secretary General, the Prime Minister [of Norway] and I, here in Oslo, how we can work together, how we can support the Secretary General in his very demanding job, to improve the effectiveness of the UN and how we can together – contributing nations, the UN family – contribute to global peace and security.

Mr Støre: Now, it is clear that the vitality of any organisation depends on its ability to reform and renew itself. The Secretary General has emphasised time and again the importance of making the UN more efficient, more effective and more accountable. These issues will also be on the agenda when the Secretary General visits Norway.

Mr Støre: Let me end by saying that the Secretary General has an extremely challenging and daunting job. The first UN Secretary General, Mr Trygve Lie - a Norwegian - once said that the post of being the Secretary General is "the most impossible job in the world". And I think he, and all his successors have experienced, that criticism comes with the job, it is the nature. For diplomats everywhere it is part of their [job] description to report on relevant topics.

Mr Støre: And last week’s news of a leak of a report to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, assessing the situation at the United Nations, as seen from one of our diplomats, has created headlines. And I would like to say as Foreign Minister that I regret that a report which was meant to be internal leaked. That is something the Foreign Ministry does not want to see. And I regret that that happened. But let me stress that this was a report to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry; it was not a statement by the Norwegian government. It is the sincere desire of my government not to let such an incident cast shadow over an important visit to Norway by the Secretary General, which will give us the opportunity to discuss important issues and substantive topics on the global agenda. So from the Norwegian side, we look forward to receiving the Secretary General, he is heartily welcome in Norway, and it will give us every opportunity to raise issues of the challenges ahead and how we can work together to reach the goals we have defined together, the UN and the membership of the UN.

Reuters:  How would you describe the Secretary General?

Mr Støre: Well Norway, as a very close supporter and contributor to the UN, I think per capita we are the number one contributor; we have every access and every channel to communicate our views to the UN. And we use them, and they are based on a close dialogue and the discretion that follows with an intimate relationship between my country and the UN. This is not the time to waste resources on commenting on job performance, this is a time of renewing our support to the United Nations, and thereby the support to the current Secretary General, who I have experienced as a very hard working, dedicated Secretary General, who has always been accessible to Norway and to the Norwegian government, so we have every channel to make any comment we would like to make on the way the United Nations functions. And I intend to use those channels for such comments.

Reuters: And you expect him fully to arrive in Norway and complete his visit?

Mr Støre: Well, the Secretary General has a busy schedule, we have planned this visit from a few months ago, and we are ready to receive him, so from Norway’s side I am saying that we look forward to receiving the Secretary General, he will have an extensive programme, a substantial programme, and I hope that the practical arrangements will allow him to conclude that visit.