In today’s Session of the Council of State, the King has appointed Mr. Leiv Lunde (43), senior advisor, Oslo, as state secretary to Ms. Hilde Frafjord Johnson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 16 February 2005. He will succeed Mr. Olav Kjørven, who has been honourably discharged from the office from 15 February.

Leiv Lunde is Cand. Polit. from the University of Oslo in 1991, with a major in political science. He now comes from a post as senior advisor at ECON Analysis in Oslo. Mr. Lunde was state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (development cooperation) 1997-2000, and has also held posts at the Peace Research Institute of Oslo and the Fridtjov Nansen Institute.

The Government represents the Conservative Party (C), the Christian Democratic Party (CD) and the Liberal Party (L). From 16 February 2005 the list of state secretaries looks as below.

For Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik:
Ms. Kari Husøy (CD)
Mr. Eirik Moen (C)
Mr. Gunnar Kvassheim (L)
Mr. Odd Jostein Sæter (CD)
Mr. Gunnar Husan (CD)
Ms. Siv Nordrum (CD)

For Mr. Jan Petersen, Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Kim Traavik (C)
Mr. Vidar Helgesen (C)
Ms. Sylvi Graham (C)

For Ms. Erna Solberg, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development:
Mr. Frank Jenssen (C)
Ms. Cathrin Bretzeg (C)
Ms. Ellen Inga Hætta (C)
Mr. Roger Iversen (C)

For Mr. Dagfinn Høybråten, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs:
Ms. Kristin Ravnanger (CD)
Mr. Helge Eide (CD)

For Mr. Lars Sponheim, Minister of Agriculture and Food:
Mr. Leif Helge Kongshaug (L)

For Mr. Per-Kristian Foss Minister of Finance:
Mr. Øystein Børmer (C),
Ms. Kari Elisabeth Olrud Moen (C) – on leave from 21 April 2004.
Mr. Harald Solberg (CD)
Ms. Helle Hammer (C) – acting from 18 June 2004.
Mr. Geir S. Olsen (L)

For Mr. Odd Einar Dørum, Minister of Justice and the Police:
Ms. Rita Sletner (L)
Mr. Trond Prytz (L)

For Ms. Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, Minister of Culture and Church Affairs:
Revd. Berit Øksnes Gjerløw (CD)
Mr. Yngve Slettholm (CD)

For Ms. Hilde Frafjord Johnson, Minister of International Development Affairs:
Mr. Leiv Lunde (CD)

For Ms. Laila Dåvøy, Minister of Children and Family Affairs:
Mr. Hans Olav Syversen (CD)

For Ms. Kristin Clemet, Minister of Education and Research:
Mr. Bjørn Haugstad (C)
Mr. Helge Ole Bergesen (C)

For Mr. Svein Ludvigsen, Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs:
Ms. Janne Johnsen (C)

For Mr. Ansgar Gabrielsen, Minister of Health and Care Services:
Mr. Jan Otto Risebrobakken (C)
Ms. Elisabeth Aspaker (C)

For Ms. Torild Skogsholm, Minister of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Arnfinn Torbjørn Ellingsen (L)

For Ms. Kristin Krohn Devold, Minister of Defence:
Mr. Bård Glad Pedersen (C)

For Mr. Børge Brende, Minister of Trade and Industry:
Mr. Lars Jacob Hiim (C)
Ms. Tone Skogen (C)

For Mr. Morten Andreas Meyer, Minister of Modernisation:
Mr. Eirk Lae Solberg (C)

For Ms. Thorhild Widvey, Minister of Petroleum and Energy:
Mr. Oluf Ulseth (C)

For Mr. Knut Arild Hareide, Minister of the Environment:
Mr. Øyvind Håbrekke (CD)