Speech at Government Office Complex

Check against delivery.

22 July is a day to remember.
We remember those who were killed and injured, and their loved ones.
And we commemorate our commitment to our fundamental values – our diversity and the sense of community that binds us together. 

On 22 July two years ago, 77 people were killed.
Eight of them here in the government office complex.
Our thoughts go to those of you who were injured.
And to the families and friends of those hit by the attack.
As a nation, we will always share your pain.

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The terrorist acts of 22 July were an attack on our security.
Terrorism seeks to spread fear by means of violence.
Our unison response has been simple – and impossible to misunderstand:
We will not be terrorised.
We will live as we wish in safety and without fear.

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This is why we have worked systematically every day since the terrorist attacks to improve our emergency preparedness.
We have evaluated our systems, we have learned lessons, and we have taken action.
The warning systems that failed on 22 July have been strengthened; the roles and responsibilities that were unclear have been clarified.
We now have better intelligence services, more helicopters and more police officers.
We have more exercises.
The Government has exercises. The police have exercises. 
As a nation we are more alert.

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All this has enhanced security, but it is not enough.
It is just as important to safeguard the values that were attacked on 22 July 2011.
Humanity, diversity, solidarity – the openness and trust that characterise our society.
For both in Norway and the countries around us we are seeing that:
Hate speech is being spread.
Jews, Muslims and gay people – “the others” – are being threatened.
Right-wing populist parties are gaining ground in Europe.
At the same time, extreme Islamists are issuing threats.
We must stand up against this.
No extremists – regardless of political allegiance, regardless of religion – are above the law.
No extremist is going to frighten us into not going where we want to, not thinking what we want, not saying what we want.

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That is why my response to 22 July 2011 was unequivocal:
“We must never abandon our values when faced with terrorism.
The answer to violence is even more democracy, even more humanity, but never naivety.”
And that is still my answer.
Our values are our strongest protection against violence and terror.

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New helicopters, more police officers and physical barriers are important anti-terrorism measures.
But they can never safeguard us completely.
A 100 per cent safe country would have to be closed off and hermetically sealed.
That is not how Norway will be.
On the contrary.
Norway will be an open democracy –
where everyone can express themselves freely without fear.

This means that everyone has to assume responsibility.
We must distance ourselves from all hate ideologies and all forms of extremism.
We must refrain from spreading xenophobia and mistrust.
And we must have the courage to welcome new groups into Norwegian society.
Including those who are unfamiliar.
In our society there is room for everyone.

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This is how we shall remember the victims of the attacks on 22 July.
This is how we shall honour those who died.