Address by the Foreign Minister at the memorial rally in Arendal

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Today the whole country is burgeoning with beautiful flowers and torches, just as we see here in Arendal, sending a message of solidarity, compassion and warmth.

At 12 o’clock, the country stood still, together with the other Nordic countries and large parts of Europe. We have come together to remember the many who felt the dreadful blow of terrorism on Friday afternoon – both in the centre of Oslo and on Utøya. We can feel the warmth of our togetherness. No one will be left alone.

At the service in Oslo Cathedral on Sunday, the Prime Minister quoted the girl from Labour Youth League, who said, and this has been sent around the world, “If one man can create that much hate, you can only imagine how much love we as a togetherness can create.” That is what the nation is doing now. Together, we are expressing love. We are taking care of one another.

This is what we are doing today. We are pulling together, we are there for one another across every imaginable dividing line.

We remember, and we look ahead. For this we know, that life will go on. As a nation we will always be marked by Friday 22/7. At the same time, we will not allow time to stand still. We will go on, take care of each other, and protect our democracy, our open society, human rights and the hopes of young people for a better world.

The most important thing today and in the days ahead is that we take care of those who have the greatest pain to bear, those who have lost their loved ones, those who are fighting for their lives. That we support those who are haunted by terrible memories after living through these atrocities.

All the delegates from Aust-Agder came back from Utøya. I met them this afternoon. They need us now, to talk to, to hold round them, to sit quietly with them, on the road back. In the days and weeks to come, as the holiday period comes to an end.

The world outside is looking to Norway. Sympathy and compassion stream towards us. We are sending a message back to the world. A message of solidarity. That one man’s acts of terrorism will not break a nation’s pride and dignity. This is our shared conviction.

Our young people are a source of hope. I myself think back on my memories from Utøya last Thursday, the day before this act of terrorism struck. Utøya then was as Utøya should be: an island filled with the commitment, joy and life of our young people, but also coloured by their seriousness as they stake out the course for the rest of their lives, determined to make a difference.

This is where we can find hope for the future. Today we are there for each other. May those we have lost rest in peace.