Nordic Office in Kaliningrad

Statement by Heidi Grande Røys, Norwegian Minister of Nordic Co-operation and Chairperson of Nordic Co-operation 2006, at the opening of the Nordic Office in Kaliningrad, 14 September 2006.

Mr.Governor, Speaker, your Excellencies, friends and partners in Nordic-Russian co-operation.

Thank you for this invitation to speak at the official opening of the Nordic Office in Kaliningrad. I am very grateful for the opportunity to visit this historic city.

Yesterday, I was able to make a tour of the city. It has a very interesting mix of different historical periods. Both in medieval and modern times, Kaliningrad has been a important city of trade, culture and employment, sorruanded by beautiful countryside.

As Baltic Sea grows in economic importance, it is only natural that the people of Kaliningrad should share in this progress. The Nordic Office intends to make its contribution to that effect. The Office represents the Nordic Council of Ministers, and serves the joint interests of the Nordic countries and its partners.

The Nordic Council of Ministers itself was established in 1971. It brings together ministers from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, as well as the self-governing territories of Greenland, the Faeroe Islands and Åland, for joint action. The Nordic parliamentarians have their cooperation within the organisation Nordic Council. I am pleased that Mr Gabriel Romanus is here today to represent this part of Nordic cooperation.

The Nordic Council of Ministers co-operates in a large range of issues of joint interest. The key overall policies of Nordic co-operation are:

• a well-organized and competitive regional market economy, including what is often called the Nordic welfare model,
• a continued process for democracy in the region,
• sustainable development
• environmental aspects of development, and finally
• cultural and people-to-people contacts.

How do the Nordic countries seek to achieve these ambitions together with our neighbours?

First of all, by a very active policy of co-operation. We see co-operation not only as an instrument, but as important in itself as it serves to build first-rate relations in the region.

Secondly, through the active role of the Nordic chairmanships, the member states, the Secretary General, the Secretariat in Copenhagen and our offices in Northwest Russia and the Baltic countries.

This year’s Norwegian chairmanship focus on three main subjects:

• First of all: Co-operation in the North of Europe (High North ?)
• Secondly: The Nordic welfare model,
• and finally: Knowledge, innovation and growth.

I believe that these subjects are as relevant to Kaliningrad as they are to the rest of the region.

Since the mid 1990s the Nordic Council of Ministers and Russia have developed their cooperation in Northwest Russia.

Some main priority areas are:

• ICT cooperation.
• Cross-border cooperation
• Research, innovation and education.
• Social and health issues, and
• Environment and sustainable development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In 2006 we have started a new phase in our co-operation with Northwest Russia, and a new overall program came into effect on 1 January.

And we have just finalised a new, larger and more focused program for exchange and network building between Northwest Russia and the Nordic countries. This will be the largest and most important part of our future co-operation with Northwest Russia – including Kaliningrad.

The program will make it possible to undertake an annual exchange where at least 500 Russians can visit the Nordic countries. The priorities will be public service, research and education, the private sector and civil society.

As part of our co-operation with Northwest Russia and also the Baltic Sea region, we are developing an NGO-program. It`s purpose is to support the development of a strong civil society through cross-border co-operation with Northwest Russia.

We have for a number of years had a Nordic Office in St. Petersburg, with sub-offices in Murmansk, Archangelsk and Petrozavodsk. (Please, excuse my russian pronunciation)

The opening of the Nordic Office in Kaliningrad and the start of activities here will greatly support the increasing Nordic co-operation with Northwest Russia.

Let me add that our co-operation with the EU commission also continues to grow and the Nordic Council of Ministers strongly supports the Northern Dimension concept.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We face a number of common challenges in our region. The opening of the Nordic Office shows that regional co-operation is high on the agenda in Kaliningrad. As I see it, this will benefit the Russian Federation as a whole and promote the Baltic Sea region as a leading growth region in Europe.

How can the Nordic countries and the Nordic Office contribute?

We should first of all share our experience. For example of sustainable development, the Nordic welfare model, civil society, an efficient public sector, research and innovation, rule of the law, and so on. In all these areas, Kaliningrad will have access to a large, open and well functioning Nordic network of skills. The Nordic Council of Ministers can also provide some funding for common activities.

A number of Nordic institutions are keen to start co-operation with partners in Kaliningrad. Some of these are international financial institutions, such as the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation, the Nordic Project Fund and the Nordic Investment Bank.

In short, we wish to promote opportunity. Exciting opportunity.

The Nordic Office is ready to meet with the authorities of Kaliningrad and other potential partners to develop and define future co-operation.

Let me finish by thanking all those who have helped in the successful establishment of the Nordic Office: especially the Russian Federation, the local authorities and the staff of the Nordic Office.

I wish you great success.

Thank you for your attention.

Related articles from www.norden.org, the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers official website:

• Nordic office opens in Kaliningrad
• Renewed focus on North-West Russia
• Growth in Kaliningrad