The Minister’s talking points for his address
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• Thank you for your kind words.
• The Government’s High North strategy was presented here in Tromsø earlier today by the Prime Minister and several other Government Ministers. It is a short – but important – document. I am standing here with a considerably longer and more weighty tome in my hands. But common to both is the emphasis on skills, expertise and development of knowledge.
• The Government’s strategy looks towards the future; it sets out visions and goals, measures and instruments. But it is from looking back in time, into history, that we learn. Experience leads to insight, knowledge and sense of perspective.
• As you, Einar-Arne Drivenes – one the chief editors – put it a few weeks ago, “We are experiencing extensive polar optimism,” and you went on to point out that, “one of the goals of this work is to foster creative reflection about our understanding of Norway as a polar nation.” You put it well. It is important that we have a realistic relationship with our polar optimism. Particularly when we are speaking to audiences abroad and reaching out to an international readership. Particularly in the context of sustainable business development in the north and the endeavour to balance utilisation of resources, settlement, tourism, the fisheries and environmental considerations, etc.
• This great, pioneering work Norsk Polarhistorie and this one-volume English version Into the Ice, the History of Norway and the Polar Regions show in a comprehensive and illustrative way that Norway’s High North policy has long historical lines. The polar regions are characterised by great geographic distances, dramatic expeditions and a range of strong, capable personalities – from Roald Amundsen (and long before him) to Liv Arnesen. And speaking of lines, the English version has successfully condensed 1500 pages to approximately a third. The thematic approach in the Norwegian three-volume work has been altered to a chronological presentation. It has, in other words, been rewritten. Successfully rewritten.
• I would like to thank the publisher, Geir Mork from Gyldendal, and most especially Einar-Arne Drivenes and Harald Dag Jølle, who are the chief editors. Thank you also to the illustrations editor and to the University of Tromsø, which has provided time, room, space and identity for this basic, useful and public-friendly research in close cooperation with other polar research centres in Norway.
• Norsk Polarhistorie is a popular book. Both Statoil and the Research Council of Norway have ordered a number of copies. So have I; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is purchasing 200 copies, which will be given to people as gifts and used in our information efforts towards some of our international partners and contacts in connection with Arctic issues.
• Finally, the book has kept our fascination with the polar regions alive; it has spotlighted the heroes, events, changes in tempo, nation building and expansion, and in addition – as I mentioned at the beginning – casts a critical glance at our scientific, commercial and political focus in the Arctic and Antarctic. The history lesson, the knowledge presented in Into the Ice will therefore play a part in forming Norway’s High North policy in the future.
• Thank you.

[Translated from Norwegian]

See version in Norwegian and presentation of the High North Strategy (in Norwegian)