The Norwegian PM’s introduction at a joint press conference with Palestine’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa

As delivered (transcribed)

Good afternoon, Prime Minister Mustafa,

It is a great honor for me as Prime Minister to welcome you to Norway, to Oslo. There is an important meeting going on in Oslo, but this is also a visit of significance because we welcome the Prime Minister after Norway has taken the decision to recognize Palestine, last May. And the venue of this meeting here in Parkveien is also of some importance because this is where the Oslo Accords were signed back in 1993. So, Prime Minister you are heartily welcome.

For more than three decades the bilateral relations between Norway and Palestine have been close, and today I have assured the Prime Minister that we build on a partnership where we support the Palestinian people and their right to live in peace, prosperity and development, and we support them politically and financially.

We have discussed today the catastrophic situation in Gaza, the need for ceasefire and the hope that that may occur soon, and for the remaining hostages to be released, and for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza immediately, where it is badly needed. And we welcome reports from talks in Doha that ceasefire may be imminent, but we've heard that before, and we really expect to see significant proofs before we can be welcoming that. It is, of course, linked to an incoming US administration, and I really hope that that can create the momentum for this to happen.

We have discussed how we now can work politically to strengthen the Palestinian State and its institutions which are absolutely key to move towards the two-states solution. We also discussed the development in the West Bank – very complex, including East-Jerusalem – as well as the regional situation with the insights from the Prime Minister.

We had an issue for some time where Palestinian tax money – Palestinian funds – were not transferred to Palestine, and through an agreement we were able to hold that money on a Norwegian account –and, obviously, that is not where that money should stay. So, in the recent weeks we have been working very actively with the United States, with Israel, and with the Palestinian Authority, and we have secured a solution whereby the Palestinian Government now can benefit from these funds. And I know that they will cover Palestinian expenses and obligations related to electricity and fuel, and that I'm happy to see now happening.

Then, I would like to say, Prime Minister, that I'm happy to see you in Oslo in a very broad context of partners from the region and from Europe. – Because what we see politically is that the acknowledgement that the two-states solution is the path we have to pursue to bring stability and peace to the people in the region. – And that political awareness is deeper and broader than it has been for many, many decades.

However, on the ground it may seem to be more distant. So, we have to make these dimensions match and that's why the Foreign Minister and I are happy to have these representatives from European Union partners, from the United States, and from the Gulf and the Arab region in Oslo to discuss these issues and see how we can work together to move forward.

This is a step on the road, and the fact that the Prime Minister is here to share his visions on how to work on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and in the West Bank – and how to take reforms forward in the Palestinian Authority – adds momentum to this.

I would like to make a final remark on the situation on UNRWA which is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. Norway has always held the position that this is a critical factor for assisting Palestinians in the vulnerable situation. We kept our support to UNRWA when other countries stepped aside, and we encourage countries and institutions to continue to support UNRWA. Of course, we have expectations to how they perform, but not seeing UNRWA in the position they are in now, spells disaster for very vulnerable people. That’s why also Norway initiated the resolution in the United Nations General Assembly requesting the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations as an occupying power to facilitate the provision of life-saving assistance and basic services to the Palestinians living under occupation. So, I will here today also urge Israel to let UNRWA continue its operation. I would urge countries who have been hesitating in supporting UNRWA, to step forward and do so, and with these words, Prime Minister, I reiterate my welcome to you and please, you have the floor.

To see PM Mustafa’s remarks and the Q & A:

• Pressekonferanse med Palestinas statsminister - regjeringen.no