Meeting of the Storting on Friday 6 June 2008

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Translated from Norwegian

I have taken note of the assessments and specific proposals that are set out in the committee’s recommendation, and I would like to express my appreciation of the thorough and orderly hearing in March.

We have learned several lessons from both. I would also like to thank the speakers for their pertinent addresses here today.

We have learned a great deal, and we have taken several initiatives. At the same time, the effort to increase security in connection with visits abroad, as well as for Norwegians who are posted abroad, is a continuous process.

Since the Serena attack, a number of measures have already been implemented to improve security for delegations abroad, both by the individual ministries concerned, and at our diplomatic and consular missions.

In addition, as several have mentioned, an interministerial group at secretary-general level chaired by the Ministry of Justice and the Police is seeking to identify joint security measures for all ministries. I gather that the group will present its report shortly.

I won’t dwell on the course of events or reflections about the attack in January on this occasion. In my view, we have had ample opportunity to do so during the committee hearings.

I will rather focus on particular areas where work is now being carried out, in order to update the Storting. These are areas that I believe the whole committee and all of us are eager to see progress in. I will start with the Foreign Ministry’s own measures to improve security for personnel abroad.

First of all, the Ministry’s crisis management system.

The attack in January revealed that the Ministry’s emergency plans were not adequate in a situation where the crisis management team itself was affected, and that our communications routines were not robust enough. We have taken steps in these areas. The Ministry is currently in the process of finalising revised and updated plans for security, emergency preparedness and crisis management.

In addition to these overarching plans, we have also reviewed and updated our risk and vulnerability analyses and our emergency and evacuation plans for all our diplomatic and consular missions. The plans reflect more strongly than previously the need for rapid, operational response, and deal with all types of crises, including unforeseeable situations.

The recently established position of security coordinator in the Ministry has been advertised, and an external applicant has been offered the job. The coordinator will play a key role in the planning and implementation of visits abroad by Ministry staff, and will support the diplomatic and consular missions in their efforts to ensure security when delegations visit from Norway.

Secondly, training and exercises.

We have strengthened security training efforts in a broad range of areas. Compulsory training courses have been introduced in first aid, stress management and personal security, including how to behave in the event of being kidnapped or taken hostage, for personnel who are being posted to high-risk areas. These courses will eventually be made compulsory for personnel based in Norway who frequently travel themselves or accompany the Ministry’s political leadership to high-risk areas.

These courses are in addition to the crisis management training provided for all who are involved in the Ministry’s crisis management organisation, as well as for all foreign service trainees. Crisis management is an important element in the preparatory training for all staff who are to be posted at Norwegian diplomatic and consular missions.

The Ministry also draws on external expertise, including that of the Norwegian police and armed forces, and of NGOs such as the Red Cross, in order to ensure the best possible standard of training.

I have found that the feedback from my colleagues in the Ministry who have been through this training programme has generally been positive.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also introduced stricter requirements for carrying out regular crisis management exercises at the diplomatic and consular missions and in the Ministry. Missions in high-risk areas have priority. So far this year, exercises have been carried out, with support from the Ministry, at the embassies in Kabul, Colombo, Islamabad, Pretoria and Tehran. In addition, several missions have run their own exercises. A number of exercises have also been carried out in the Ministry, including for the strategic leadership.

Thirdly, new routines have been introduced for visits abroad.

In anticipation of the publication of the forthcoming report by the Ministry of Justice and the Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has implemented several measures on its own initiative. These include closer cooperation with the Police Security Service on planning and carrying out visits.

In connection with visits to high-risk areas, routines have been established for a joint security briefing as soon as possible following arrival. A new practice of issuing emergency cards with emergency telephone numbers and other vital information in the event of an accident or other emergency has also been introduced.

In addition, the Ministry staff who frequently accompany the Ministry’s political leadership to high-risk areas are given first-aid training and always take first-aid equipment with them. The Ministry is working continuously to improve security for its employees in connection with visits and postings abroad. These efforts cover a wide range of measures, from improving insurance coverage to increasing personal security by means of training and equipment.

The fourth area is relations with the media.

Immediately after the attack in Kabul, the Ministry introduced a more restrictive practice for the publication of information on the Internet regarding visits to high-risk areas.

Furthermore, a new arrangement has been introduced, under which the press are issued with an emergency card along the same lines as the other members of the delegation, and attend the security briefing that is held on arrival in high-risk areas. The same procedure is followed in areas where there may not be a security risk, but where this routine has been established.

At the beginning of March, I had a meeting with the Norwegian Press Association’s security committee on these issues, and I wish to continue this dialogue. Moreover, the working group in the Ministry of Justice will have a meeting with the Association of Norwegian Editors’ security committee about the same issues on 18 June.

Our approach towards the media is to be as open as possible, also with regard to security issues. At the same time, we must ensure that information that needs to be protected is protected. However, it must be clear that concrete information of relevance for personal safety must be given to all taking part in a visit, regardless of whether the person concerned has been security cleared or not. There are practical arrangements for sharing such information.

The situation in Afghanistan is still difficult, and the risk level in the country remains high. The Ministry has therefore carried out a thorough review of security at the embassy in Kabul in collaboration with our security authorities.

The review showed that most of the security arrangements function satisfactorily, but that improvements should be made on certain points. Consequently, the physical protection of the embassy has been strengthened and security guarding around the embassy complex has been reinforced. The communications systems have been improved, and all embassy staff have taken a security course. I would like to add that we have enjoyed close cooperation with the Afghan authorities in this connection.

Pending the permanent appointment of a civilian security adviser, a police officer has been temporarily posted at the embassy. However, an adviser has now been appointed, and will be in place in a few weeks. Other security measures are currently being implemented. I would also like to mention that I recently appointed one of our most experienced diplomats as our new ambassador in Kabul.

But it is not just the embassy in Kabul that this facing a difficult security situation. As you know, we were made painfully aware of this fact a few days ago when the Danish Embassy in Islamabad, in Pakistan, was attacked.

In the last couple of months, we have reviewed the security arrangements at most of our high-risk missions, such as our embassy in Islamabad, and we have already initiated training programmes, security exercises and a broad range of practical measures. This is important not only to ensure the security of our staff, but also to ensure that the embassy is able to provide the best possible assistance for Norwegians who are involved in accidents or other crises.

In general, the international threat situation has become more acute and complex. At the same time, the need for cross-border contact, knowledge and understanding has never been greater. It is therefore decisive that politicians, senior officials, representatives of the media and civil society and others are able to travel and carry out their work as freely as possible.

We have to come to terms with the fact that there will always be some form of security risk in connection with certain types of visit. We will never be able to protect ourselves completely. But our aim must be to reduce the risk as far as possible. This requires good planning and follow-up, and training. It also requires a high level of security awareness on the part of all involved. The Government will make every effort towards this end.

 
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For transcripts of all the other addresses, see: www.stortinget.no (Norwegian only)