Prime Minister, Ministers, President of the Nordic Council , colleagues.

First I would like to congratulate Finland on its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and in particular the new Secretary General, Halldór Ásgrímsson.

What we have heard today about the Nordic cooperation and its link to the new Northern Dimension is very much in line with Norway’s thinking on these issues.

I have been asked by our Finnish hosts to say a few words about the Norwegian focus on the High North.

Geography is an important part of foreign policy. We only have to look at a map of the Nordic region to feel a close connection with the High North. The High North is our top foreign policy priority, and the Norwegian Government has recently launched its High North strategy, which takes a cross-sector and cross-border approach.

Our High North policy is to be transparent, predictable and responsible. Its overall objective is to create sustainable growth and development in the High North. Key issues are energy, the environment and climate change. And the key question is: How can we work together to address them?

Our aim is to develop and utilise our energy resources in the north while taking the greatest possible care of the environment.

Our main tools are knowledge, competence and regional and international cooperation. We intend to remain at the forefront of international efforts to develop knowledge in and about the High North and to find new innovative solutions.

Generating knowledge and strengthening research efforts are also important for developing industry, commerce, travel and tourism in the High North. Knowledge generation must benefit the population living in region, including the indigenous peoples, and help to secure employment opportunities.

Our High North strategy focuses on sound ecosystem-based management of both renewable and non-renewable resources. We intend to be the best steward of the environment and natural resources in the region.

We are taking a forward-looking approach. Climate change is a concern for everyone. From last autumn to 2009 Norway will be chairing the Arctic Council. Our top priorities are sustainable resource management and efforts to combat climate change.

We already have a very good cooperation with Russia in the Barents Sea based on high standards. We also have a good cooperation with Iceland on fisheries and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. And we are pleased that the EU is responding to this challenge, seeking to constrain the markets for illegal fish.

We also welcome the new EU perspective on the High North.

The Barents cooperation has been a success, and a number of projects have been implemented. We believe the Barents experience can be useful for Northern Dimension (ND) projects, and we welcome the ND proposal on the development of infrastructure.

There has been a tendency to take a North-South perspective, but I believe we should turn our attention to the East-West perspective and the interesting opportunities for developing transport connections, corridors, and infrastructure in general.

One good example of this is a remote settlement in North Norway, which did not have proper fire protection. It was a long way to the nearest Norwegian town that had the necessary equipment, and the fire-fighting facilities on the Finnish side of the border were in fact much closer. So, with the simple addition of a valve, Finnish hoses were adapted for use on the Norwegian side.

We believe that this approach is relevant for the ND.

What then are the factors for success for the ND?

I believe that we need to develop synergy and added value; we need concrete projects and good coordination between the regional councils. Foreign Minister Tuomioja has also pointed at the importance of common ownership.

Norway supports the new framework for the ND. We give tribute to the leading role that Finland has played in its development, and we subscribe to the demands for greater coordination and streamlining.

Finally, we should not underestimate the value of the various political arenas at different times. Just as the tide ebbs and flows, so one arena will flourish as another stagnates. We must take full advantage of the opportunities each arena can offer at any one time.