Norwegian forces to Kyrgyzstan (Aftenposten)

A Norwegian military unit is to establish a presence in Kyrgyzstan – one of the most remote areas in the former Soviet Union. Between 60 and 70 Norwegian military personnel are to set up a supply base in Kyrgyzstan. The build up of the Norwegian force is part of the establishment of a western presence in Central Asia in the wake of the war in Afghanistan. It is the first time in history that a Norwegian military unit establishes a presence in the former Soviet Union. Kyrgyz, Norwegian, Danish and Dutch flags will fly over the new base.

We can afford a bumper wage hike (Dagbladet)

Gjensidige Nor’s chief economist, Nil Terje Furunes, is forecasting a bumper year for Norwegian employees. This year, he believes, we can stand major wage hikes in the public services without this getting in the way of a cut in interest rates. This is excellent news for the striking nurses and other groups who are preparing for tough wage negotiations in the next few months. For a long time they have been told that sizzling wage increases will lead to higher costs, rising prices and, as a result, continued high interest rates.

Reform of legislation affecting unmarried couples (Verdens Gang)

Half a million people living as unmarried couples will see major changes in their rights when the Government presents its wide-ranging legislative reform. Today unmarried partners are discriminated against in a number of areas, compared to married couples. "We are working on a major report on the family, which we expect to present in the autumn. The status of unmarried couples will be an important part of that report," said Children and Family Affairs Minister Laila Dåvøy. The review of the legislation affecting unmarried couples follows up the recommendations which government appointed commission on the issue published in May 1999.

Call to repatriate Norway’s oil money (Dagbladet)

Leading Labour politicians want to invest the country’s oil billions in Norway. So far all of the Government Petroleum Fund’s approximately NOK 600 billion has been invested in foreign shares and bonds. "We must acknowledge that we are in a new situation compared to when the Fund was created. With limited risk we should make capital available to Norwegian companies," said Olav Akselsen (Labour). The Norwegian Central Bank, which administers the Fund, is not currently permitted to invest capital in Norwegian companies. This restriction follows a vote to that effect in the Storting.

Danish plan to take over some railway lines (Dagsavisen)

The Danish state railway company (DSB) has given strong indications that it is seeking a piece of the Norwegian rail network. At the same time the National Rail Administration is waiting only for the approval of the Bondevik government and the Storting before it puts important railway lines surrounding Norway’s major towns out to tender. "We would not be uninterested if the Norwegian authorities were to open the way for Danish trains in Norway," said DSB’s incoming deputy chief executive, Keld Sengeløv.

Berntsen to make peace with Stoltenberg (Aftenposten)

Labour veteran Thorbjørn Berntsen is to meet Jens Stoltenberg to clear the air after Mr Berntsen’s call for Mr Stoltenberg to pull out of the Labour leadership race. "Contact has been established, and we have agreed to talk in the near future. I want to clear up any conflict between us," said Mr Berntsen.

Warm refrigerated display cabinets (Nationen)

The Norwegian Food Control Authority (SNT) has announced stronger measures to ensure shops’ refrigerated display cabinets keep a lower temperature. If the worst comes to the worst, the rules governing use-by-dates could be changed to give a shorter shelf-life. Behind the move is a recent survey which showed that only 38 per cent of supermarkets’ refrigerated display cabinets had a satisfactory temperature. The SNT’s initiative has been supported by several food manufacturers.

Minister calls for walls dividing public and private sector to be pulled down (Dagens Næringsliv)

According to Labour and Government Administration Minister Victor D. Norman, local authorities should be given more power, the supply of public services does not need to be the same, the way jobs are carried out should be simpler and more effective, and the ‘walls’ dividing public and private sector occupations should be pulled down. "Otherwise the Norwegian welfare state will fall apart," he said. This week Mr Norman will address the Storting on administrative simplification and modernization.

Worth Noting

• Yesterday Thorbjørn Jagland had his first conversation with party secretary Martin Kolberg – over a week after falling ill. However, the Labour Party is refusing to disclose who contacted whom. (Verdens Gang)
• Labour Party chairman Thorbjørn Jagland is on the mend, according to people who have spoken to him by telephone from Israel. But no one dares to predict if Mr Jagland is still keen to fight to hang on to his position in the party. (Dagsavisen)
• Gunnar Stålsett, the Bishop of Oslo, has described the USA’s treatment of its prisoners at Guantanamo base as "an arrogant provocation". The Bishop believes the USA’s credibility is at stake. (Aftenposten)
• The Norwegian Nurses’ Association yesterday called 221 of its members at ten hospitals out on strike. But the nurses are getting no backing from the leaders of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO). "I do not want to express any support for this strike," said LO deputy president Roar Flåthen,. (Klassekampen)
• Hundreds of nurses demonstrated in the streets of Oslo yesterday evening. While hospitals are cancelling operations and consultations, the nurses are claiming that patients could have been spared. (Dagsavisen)
• The Centre Party has launched a fierce attack on plans by Local Government Minister Erna Solberg (Con) to merge local authorities into larger units. During question time in the Storting yesterday the Centre Party warned it would mount a campaign against the Minister’s plans. (Aftenposten)
• Aker RGI has made tax-free gains of NOK 7.6 billion by exploiting loopholes in the country’s tax legislation. Professor Terje Hansen of the Norwegian School of Economics and Business (NHH) believes additional gains of NOK 4 billion are just around the corner. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• As soon as Kjell Inge Røkke had secured absolute power at Kværner, he changed his tune. In October he accused Kværner’s management of ‘almost fraud’, now there are not even grounds for criticism. (Aftenposten)
• Arguably the world’s most famous construction, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, is in need of a coat of paint. And Jotun will be providing it. "If anyone had said 20 years ago that Jotun’s paint would be embellishing the Eiffel Tower, I would not have believed them. It was our dream," said André Tanguy, head of Jotun France. (Aftenposten)

Today’s comment from Dagsavisen

Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik demonstrated he was not afraid to grasp the nettle when he raised human rights issues with China’s President Jiang Zemin. Unfortunately the Government is not as forthright when it comes to the USA, which also has its human rights failings. We are thinking not only of the treatment of the al-Qaeda prisoners at Guantanamo base, but also the widespread use of the death penalty. Should not the USA have to put up with hearing the same message as the Chinese?