Director Ismail Serageldin, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

I am very pleased and grateful to be in the Library of Alexandria once again to speak about the freedom of expression and libraries. On behalf of the Norwegian Government I had the privilege of handing over the Beacon for Freedom of Expression database in May last year.

The fact that this new Beacon conference is happening, shows that the struggle for freedom of expression and against censorship is an on-going process we will never give up. Also, the conference shows that Library of Alexandria is well aware of its role in this common struggle.

Censorship is serious business. It is interesting to think of all the people busy with keeping documents away from their fellow citizens both past and present and in the future. And why? Why do some people think it necessary to withhold information from others? And how can they justify such actions?

The human project is aimed at freedom. Humanity consists of individual men and women, boys and girls. Freedom therefore means the freedom for every one of us to develop our abilities, talents, thoughts, feelings, that we may live together and share our resources.

We cannot achieve our goals without help from others. Living in a society makes it possible for individuals to develop. But we have to stick to a set of rules, which express our common responsibility as citizens. With good arenas for human development, societies also develop. It must open arenas for human activities in order for citizens’ developing their responsibility.

Now, a vital question is therefore: How do we develop our societies over time with the help of everybody's resources? We don’t do this by establishing a fixed truth about society at one point of time. We don’t do this by suppressing alternative opinions that do not comply with the words of the wise and mighty. Society is a process, we build it together over time, generation after generation. Its guidelines and laws must answer the challenges of changing times and conditions. It is very important to have arenas for the freedom of expression. We need to have all voices heard to correct errors and promote a good society for all.

I am therefore very pleased to read the «Alexandria Statement» issued in March 2004, quoted on the Library of Alexandria web-site for this conference. It states that freedom of expression in every form is a condition for democracy. It also says that there is no excuse for censorship by religious, traditional, private or political authorities.

In hosting the Beacon for Freedom of Expression database, the Library of Alexandria is sending a strong signal; Libraries are of fundamental importance for practising freedom of expression.

Libraries are huge sources of knowledge and information. These sources must be freely available to any responsible citizen. And the library's management of its information resources must be free of censorship. In this way a library can be part of what may be called the infrastructure of freedom of expression.

In the process of developing a viable society it is important that decision-making at all levels is preceded by discussion and consideration of a representative range of views. This is one very important function of freedom of speech.

A decision made after adequate consultation will in a better way mirror the opinions, interests and needs of all concerned. A government which does not know what the people feel and think, is – without doubt – creating a dangerous position for itself.

Likewise, a regime that suppresses opposition by censorship and other means creates tension. Such a regime will tire out its resources of time and power.

The freedom of expression fosters truth.

For a society dedicated to stimulating the progress of its citizens, freedom of expression is a necessary quality. The development of society's institutions goes hand in hand with the development of the people.

In Norway we are currently revising the constitutional protection of freedom of expression and information. The Norwegian Governmental Commission on Freedom of Expression published an extensive report in 1999. After that there has been a wide ranging debate on questions concerning the basis, scope and limits to this freedom. This autumn the Commission’s proposal, along with several alternative proposals, will finally be debated in our Parliament. It is a premise that any obstacle to free speech must be justified by the reasons behind freedom of expression. This indicates that Norway, as a constitutional democracy, also needs to develop further the balance between the universal ideal of freedom of expression and contextual reasons for delaying its full realisation.

As part of our efforts to create infrastructures for freedom of expression, The Ministry of Culture has established The Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority. The purpose is to improve management of, and public access to all the information resources.

It is my belief that information and communication technology not least in libraries serves to increase dialogue and communication between cultures, and helps making censorship an impossible mission.

In light of these reflections, I am very pleased to note the success that the new Library of Alexandria has become. It shines as a beacon in the international world of libraries, dedicated to the free spirit of humanity, in its past, present and future manifestations.

I will follow this conference with enthusiasm. The many important topics covered makes this conference an important international event in securing the freedom of expression. One thing is saluting the ideal of freedom of expression. We need to work together for its realisation.

I would like to thank Director Serageldin very much for his brave and steadfast use of the Library of Alexandria in promoting the freedom of expression. I feel confident that the Beacon for Freedom of Expression will remain a source of enlightenment. I hope it will make it possible for all human beings to feel confident that their voice be heard, and that their opinions be respected.

The staff at Library of Alexandria deserve warm thanks for making this conference happening. And thank you to the organizing committee, and to the organizations supporting this event.

I wish you good luck with the conference!

Thank you.