Minister Helgesen congratulates President Santos on Peace Prize

- I congratulate the president and people of Colombia. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been working tirelessly for peace in Colombia. The road to reconciliation is long, but the prize is an important expression of support from the world community. Santos is also a close and highly valued partner in the efforts to protect the world's tropical forests and promote green growth, says Norway's Climate and Environment Minister Vidar Helgesen.

During the UNFCCC COP21 summit in Paris in December 2015, Norway, Germany and the UK partnered with Colombia to support Colombia's efforts to reduce deforestation in the Amazon.

Covering almost 60 million hectares, Colombia’s natural forests are among the most biodiverse on earth, home to a large number of endemic species as well as to local communities, indigenous peoples and afro-Colombians with invaluable cultural heritage.