As an introduction to the celebrations marking the 10 ^th> anniversary of the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation, in Kirkenes in Northern Norway 10-11 January, Prime Ministers Kjell Magne Bondevik of Norway and Mikhail Kasianov og Russia on Friday afternoon 10 January will open the new Russian border post of Borisoglebsk. The two will also meet for political talks at the border, before leaving for Kirkenes and celebrations aboard the costal ship the “MS Trollfjord”.

As already announced, participants in Kirkenes will also be Nordic Prime Ministers Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Denmark), Paavo Lipponen (Finland), Göran Persson (Sweden) and David Oddsson (Iceland) and leading representatives of the EU Presidency and the EU Commission. Present will also be representatives of the Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Russian regions participating in the cooperation, and of the aboriginal peoples in the Barents region.

President of the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation this year is Sweden’s Prime Minister, Mr. Göran Persson.

Former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Thorvald Stoltenberg, central in establishing the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation in 1993, will also participate.

On Friday evening 10 January and Saturday morning 11 January celebrations will take place aboard the newest Norwegian coastal ship, the “MS Trollfjord”, in Kirkenes harbour. The “Trollfjord” normally sails the route Kirkenes-Bergen. On Saturday afternoon 11 January celebrations will continue at the Kirkenes Borderland Museum, where participants will experience “arctic tableaus” in the wintry dusk.

After celebrations in Kirkenes Prime Ministers Bondevik and Lipponen will leave for Tromsø, for Norwegian-Finnish talks and dinner there in the afternoon and evening of 11 January.

To the editor:
Press contact for the celebration is Øivind Østang, head of information, Prime Minister’s Office in Oslo: phone +47 22 24 40 37/+47 91 34 64 70 or oivind.ostang@smk.dep.no. Press contact for the Swedish presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation in 2003 is Jan Larsson, press secretary, Prime Minister’s Office in Stockholm: phone +46 70 59 33 412 or jan.larsson@primeminister.ministry.se.

Press intending to cover celebrations in Kirkenes should on Monday 6 January 2003 the latest seek accreditation via the press and information section of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: phone +47 22 24 31 41/49, www.akkreditering.mfa.no or press@mfa.no.

Press should also indicate whether they will want to book a cabin aboard the “Trollfjord” for the night 10-11 January, and whether they will want to book a seat on a chartered plane Oslo-Kirkenes on Friday morning 10 January and/or Kirkenes-Oslo on Saturday afternoon 11 January. (The regular plane Oslo-Kirkenes on 10 January leaves at 10.10 am, on Saturday 11 January there is no regular plane connection Kirkenes-Oslo after 12.50 pm.)

The programme for the celebration of the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation at present looks as follows:

Friday 10 January:
From 11.00 am: Check-in for accredited press on the “MS Trollfjord”, in Kirkenes harbour.

12.00 noon: Departure from Oslo Airport Gardermoen for accredited press with seats on chartered plane to Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen.

12.20 pm: Transport for accredited press from the “Trollfjord” by way of Kirkenes Airport to Storskog border post.

12.50 pm: Arrival at Kirkenes Airport for Prime Minister Bondevik. Photo opportunity for accredited press.

1.15 pm: Prime Minister Bondevik receives Prime Minister Kasianov at Kirkenes Airport. Photo opportunity for accredited press.The two prime ministers leave for the “Trollfjord” in Kirkenes harbour. Photo opportunities for accredited press in the harbour in reception area on deck 4.

2.00 pm Arrival at Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen for accredited press on charter plane from Oslo Airport Gardermoen. Transport to Storskog border post and the “Trollfjord” in Kirkenes harbour.

2.30 pm: Prime Ministers Bondevik and Kasianov leave the “Trollfjord” for theNorwegian Border Commissioner’s house at Storskog.

3.00 pm: Political talks between Prime Ministers Bondevik and Kasianov at the Norwegian Border Commissioner’s house at Storskog. Photo opportunity for accredited press at the opening.

4.00 pm: Prime Ministers Bondevik and Kasianov open new Russian border post at Borisoglebsk. Open to accredited press holding special visa via the press section of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following this the two prime ministers meet accredited press.

4.30 pm: Prime Ministers Bondevik and Kasianov leave Storskog for the “Trollfjord”. Separate transport for accredited press.

Afternoon: Other prime ministers arriving at Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen by separate planes, for transportation to the ”Trollfjord” in Kirkenes harbour. Photo opportunity for accredited press at the airport, in the harbour and in reception area on deck 4.

6.00 pm: ”Visions and Realities”.Celebration in Valhall Amphitheatre aboard the “MS Trolfjord”.Barents Chamber Orchestra will perform, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Thorvald Stoltenberg will be among the speakers, and Norwegian soprano Marianne Hirsti will present Sami romances. Open to accredited press.

7.30 pm: Working reception in Panorama Lounge on deck 8, for prime ministers, EU-representatives, representatives of the Barents regions and aboriginal peoples, and representatives of observer states.Photo opportunity for press pool at opening.

8.30 pm: Jubilee dinner in Saga Hall on deck 5. Accredited press invited.Photo opportunities for press pool.

Saturday 11 January:
9.00 am: The “Trollfjord” leaves port, to cruise down the Kirkenes inlet of the Varanger Fjord until 11.00 am.

9.30 am: Barents Euro-Arctic summit meeting, in Espolin Johnson room on deck 8, for prime ministers and EU representatives. Presiding will be Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson.Photo opportunity for press pool at opening.

11.00 am: The “Trollfjord” returns to port in Kirkenes.

11.15 am: Press conference with prime ministers and EU representatives, in Valhall Amphiteatre on deck 5.

11.45 am: Transport for accredited press from the “Trollfjord” to Kirkenes Borderland Museum.

12 noon: Participants in the celebrations aboard the “Trollfjord” arrive at Kirkenes Borderland Museum at Hesseng.

12.15 pm: opening of exhibition “Migration”
12.30 pm: presentation of Sami life and culture, lunch in lavvoes
1.45 pm: theatre group Samovarungan performs outdoors
Access for accredited press.

From 2.00 pm: Departure from Borderland Museum for participants leaving by separate planes from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen.

2.00 pm: Departure from Borderland Museum for accredited press holding seats on chartered plane from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen to Oslo airport Gardermoen.

3.00 pm: Departure from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen to Oslo Airport Gardermoen for accredited press holding seats on chartered plane.

5.00 pm: Arrival at Oslo Airport Gardermoen for accredited press holding seats on chartered plane from Kirkenes Airport Høybuktmoen.

4.15.pm: Norwegian-Finnish meeting between Prime Ministers Bondevik and Lipponen, at Rica Ishavshotellet in Tromsø. Short press meeting at 5.15 pm. Press contact is state secretary Gunnar Husan, +47 91 12 12 16.Following dinner the two prime ministers will return to their capitals the same evening.