National memorial site in the Government quarter

John Hestnes, member of the National 22 July support group; minister of government administration, reform and church affairs Rigmor Aasrud; minister of culture Anniken Huitfeldt and national 22 July support group chairman Trond Henry Blattmann in front of the government quarter. (Photo: Wenche Nybo). (The picture is at free press disposal.)

 

- The Norwegian government wants to honor all the victims of the terrorist attack on the 22^nd of July.  The sites of commemoration will be honoring homicide victims, survivors, emergency squads and volunteers. The memorial sites will be accessible to everyone, minister of culture, Anniken Huitfeldt, says.

- At the government quarter a memorial monument which includes all the names of those killed during the terrorist attack on 22 July will be established. A memorial site on the mainland across from Utøya will be established as well, Ms Huitfeldt says.

The national memorial site in Oslo will temporarily be established between the Oslo Public Library (Deichmanske bibliotek) and the so-called Y block in the government quarter.

- The national memorial site will be established in the government quarter, and will be seen in connection with the reconstruction, according to the minister of government administration, reform and church affairs, Ms Rigmor Aasrud.

- The Government finds it appropriate to establish a temporary memorial close to the scene of the first terrorist attack. That is why we have chosen to place it in front of the library during the time the government quarter is being reconstructed, Ms. Huitfeldt says.

The Ministry of government administration, reform and church affairs (FAD) is going to discuss with the property owners the acquisition of the site for a memorial in the municipality of Hole. They will also go into a dialogue with the municipal authorities to clarify the regulation of these places.

An international prequalification followed by a closed competition will be announced. The government professional body, Public Art Norway (KORO), will have the art professional and operative responsibility for the projects. The jury will be composed according to the general rules for such matters; however, the Labour party youth organization AUF, the National support group after the 22 July terror and a representative appointed by the government will be included among the jury members.