Ukraine – Norway: 20 years of diplomatic relations

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Deputy Foreign Minister Klimkin, ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome and thank you for coming to Norway, to mark 20 years of diplomatic relations and to lay the foundations for a continued cooperation in the years ahead.

I remember well when Mr. Øyvind Nordsletten went to Kiev and came back as our first ambassador to Ukraine in the fastest accreditation process we have seen in the Ministry. He is here today: Nordsletten did great work and enjoyed his stay very much. I have also been to Kiev – a beautiful city.

Our peoples have had a thriving people- to- people relationship for more than 1000 years. Norway is better known in Ukraine, than vice versa. Norwegian literature and music is well known, Norwegian history and economy as well. Many Ukrainians honour the memory of Fridtjof Nansen and his mission in Soviet Ukraine during the 1921–23 famine.

Many Norwegians will be more familiar with Ukraine’s rich and fascinating culture and history as a European country in the future. As Mr. Ulf Sverdrup mentioned, you are hosting the European football championships this year – Norway is unfortunately not qualified. I look forward to closer cooperation between our countries in the years ahead.

Ukraine and Norway share a history of dominance by other nations: Ukraine under the Soviet Union, Norway under Denmark, then Sweden. Today, we have found our rightful place as independent states on the European and global scene. 

Independence means the right to shape the nation’s internal future, but equally also the right and obligation to take part in global governance and take international responsibility. Norway wishes to be a close and constructive partner with Ukraine in the building of a modern, democratic society based on shared values, to which both countries have committed themselves as members of the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

Over the past two decades - since the independence of Ukraine in 1991 and the opening of our embassy in Kiev a few months later - we have successfully expanded our relations in a number of fields.

We have seen a positive development of trade relations;

• The Ukraine is a very important market for Norwegian seafoods. The country imports seafoods from Norway to a value exceeding 1 billion NOK.
• Telecommunications - Telenor’s experience and ownership interest in Kyivstar has also led the way for several other Norwegian IT companies that are making use of Ukraine’s excellent programming expertise and outsourcing services.
• Shipbuilding has previously been important in our bilateral trade and there is a large potential for this sector in the future.
• Research and innovative technologies. One example:  In the Sea Launch project, Ukrainian, Russian and US space technologies were combined with Norwegian offshore platform technology to launch satellites from the Pacific Ocean. Since 1999 almost 30 satellites have successfully been put into orbit by this joint venture originally composed of companies from four countries, including Norway and Ukraine.

The Norwegian–Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry undertake important work in facilitating cooperation, sharing information and networking within the business community in the areas such as innovation, environment, cleaner production and energy efficiency and corporate social responsibility.

To ensure lasting and sustainable levels of cooperation we need international frameworks and agreements. The Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and EFTA will enter into force later this year. I am confident that this agreement will give us a more predictable framework for exporters and importers.

Another important development is Ukraine’s relations to the EU. We are not a member of the EU, but cooperate closely through the EEA and other agreements. We fully support Ukraine’s European integration efforts and I congratulate you on the conclusion of negotiations with the EU on the association agreement and the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement.

Your international commitments are signs of a common belief in the importance of shared European duties and rights: Last year Ukraine chaired the Council of Europe for the first time. Next year you will take up the important task of chairing the OSCE. These are important commitments on the part of Ukraine. They also reflect the expectations of the rest of Europe with regard to Ukraine’s democratic development.

To conclude; co-operation on democratic and economic reforms, as well as defence sector reforms, is important in our bilateral relationship. We also appreciate the close co-operation with civil society. We hope to strengthen our co-operation with Ukraine even further in all areas.

Twenty years is not a long time. But it is appropriate to mark this occasion. It gives us an opportunity to take stock, reflect and look ahead to the next decades. I feel that we have made good use of these 20 years, and our consultations tomorrow will give us an opportunity to review them more closely.

Thank you.