Bondevik: Norway will contribute to pressure on Iraq (NTB)

Norway would contribute to pressure on Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but first and foremost the weapons inspectors must be allowed back into the country, said Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. "We have not reached the stage where we can start discussing what would justify a war with Iraq. But in my opinion we should follow the UN track, and I would not rule out the issuing of an ultimatum to Iraq," said Mr Bondevik to Norwegian media in New York on Monday night Norwegian time. Norway and other US allies expect President George W. Bush to present the evidence against Iraq, either in the UN Security Council or in bilateral meetings. Both Mr Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have given repeated assurances that they have intelligence reports regarding Saddam Hussein’s weapons programmes.

Norwegians say no to war with Iraq (Dagsavisen)

Six out of ten Norwegians are opposed to Norwegian support for the USA’s plans to go to war with Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Only two out of ten believe we should back the Americans, according to a recent opinion poll carried out on behalf of Dagsavisen. "The Norwegian people are in line with the citizens in the rest of Europe. There is a substantial majority in all the EU countries against a war with Iraq," said Stein Tønnesson, head of the International Peace Research Institute.

Government tells UDI to expel Mullah Krekar (Verdens Gang)

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Affairs yesterday instructed the Immigration Directorate (UDI) to formally expel Mullah Krekar (46) from the country. The Minister, Erna Solberg, and her department can only instruct the UDI in cases which affect national security. The conclusions of the Ministry and the UDI’s investigation of the Krekar case will probably only be published after Mullah Krekar – also known as Njamuddin Faraj Ahmad – and his family have been given a 14-day deadline to rebut the charges. There are no indications that Mullah Krekar’s family – a wife and four children – will be affected by the UDI’s decision. They are all Norwegian citizens and will probably be allowed to stay in Norway.

Schou tones down threat of cut in sick pay (NTB)

Social Affairs Minister Ingjerd Schou (Con) is not threatening to cut sick pay benefits even through the agreement on an inclusive workplace fails to cut the numbers taking sick leave. Ms Schou’s position is therefore at odds with that of Labour and Government Administration Minister Victor D. Norman (Con). He has said that the Government will have to consider economic sanctions to reduce absenteeism if the agreement has not given the desired effect by next summer.

Norwegian values give country greater influence (Vårt Land)

Norway has much greater influence as a peace builder, in the UN and on development issues than our peripheral position on the world stage would indicate, according to political science professor Janne Haaland Matlary. The former Christian Democrat State Secretary at the Foreign Ministry was herself involved in the promotion of peace efforts and human rights up until March 2000. Now Ms Haaland Matlary has written a report for the Power and Democracy research project in which she describes the benefits of Norwegian value-based diplomacy. "It gives us a very good reputation at a time when this particular kind of foreign policy has widespread support," said Ms Haaland Matlary.

Norwegians lead efforts to save Nigerian woman from stoning (Aftenposten)

Norwegian defence lawyers are at the forefront of an intense campaign against the treatment of the Nigerian mother Amirnal Lawal, who is under sentence of death. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry reports an unprecedented storm of protest from both private individuals and organizations in Norway. "We cannot remember having experienced a broader mass protest in a case involving human rights," said acting spokesman Kåre Eltervåg. Harald Stabell, who chairs the Norwegian Bar Association’s penal code committee, is one of those who has taken a personal interest in the fate of the Nigerian woman. The Bar Association’s leadership has also reacted strongly.

Support for Labour prince crumbling (Dagbladet)

Poisonous intrigues and gender equality considerations mean that support for Trond Giske as the Labour Party’s new deputy leader is crumbling in the party’s youth wing (AUF). Several new women candidates are now being touted as possible deputy leader material. However, Mr Giske is working intensely behind the scenes to secure his own candidacy. But the majority of those in political circles around Mr Giske recognize that without support and active lobbying from a united youth movement he does not stand a chance of being elected.

Labour loses grip on super-union (Klassekampen)

When the Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees (NKF) and the Norwegian Association of Health and Social Care Personnel (NHS) merge to form a new union, it will mean the end to the NKF’s political collaboration with the Labour Party, according to Tove Stangnes, leader of the NHS. "It will be far too limiting to tie ourselves to just one party," she said. The close ties between the unions and the Labour Party are a matter of contention both within the party and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO). The LO Congress decided for the first time last year to donate funds to the Socialist Left Party’s election campaign, a sign that the Labour Party’s unique position is under pressure. At the same time the Labour Party’s right-wingers are keen to loosen the ties with the union movement, which is seen as being a millstone round the neck of Norway’s efforts to "modernize".

Worth Noting

• According to DnB Markets the Norwegian state could see its oil revenues increase by almost NOK 15 billion in the event of a brief war with Iraq. However, if the war drags on, the state’s additional revenues could be enormous. In other words, the less successful any US military action against Iraq proves to be, the longer oil prices will remain at a high level.
  (Aftenposten)
• In line with Europe’s other stock exchanges, the Oslo Stock Exchange yesterday commemorated the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the USA with a cautious rise in share prices. The Oslo Stock Exchange’s main index rose 1.14 per cent to end at 125.76 points.
  (NTB)
• Jens Ulltveit-Moe, president of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO), has taken control of debt-ridden Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) and is set to oust the company’s founder and current chairman, Reidar Michaelsen. Mr Ulltveit-Moe will himself take over as chairman and has called an extraordinary general meeting to elect a new board of directors.
  (Aftenposten)
• Good public services are more important for voters than tax relief in next year’s budget, according to a recent opinion poll which Omnijet has carried out on behalf of Dagsavisen. Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss (Con) denies that the poll shows the Government’s policy of tax cuts has little support among the people.
  (Dagsavisen)
• The Storting recommends that GPs have 1,500 patients on their lists, but a number of GPs have almost 2,500 patients on their books. Before they have had a single consultation with a patient they have earned NOK 750,000 from the state. The Storting recommends patient lists of 1,500 because long lists can lead to queues, and consultations can be lightning fast once you have finally managed to get an appointment.
  (Dagbladet)
• Around about now 100,000 people will be taking their shotguns and their dogs out into the countryside to shoot grouse. It is second only to Easter for the mass exodus of people into the countryside. And the hunters can happily note that they have the backing of 62 per cent of the population. But opposition is up on last year, according to Norsk Gallup’s environmental poll. 32 per cent of the population is opposed to hunting.
  (Nationen)
• Environment Minister Børge Brende is the first to tell the world that endangered species must be protected. At the same time 3,062 Norwegian plants and animals are threatened with extinction or defined as vulnerable.
  (Aftenposten)
• In the past few days NOK 1 million has been seized as it was being taken illegally out of Norway. Every year tens of millions of kroner in illicit drug money floods out of the country. The money goes to organized crime bosses and as payment for further drug shipments being smuggled into Norway.
  (Dagbladet)
• The radiology department at the Norwegian National Hospital now has a brand new digital x-ray laboratory for children. It is the first in the world to use advanced technology to take x-rays of children.
  (NTB)

Today’s comment from Vårt Land

The Islamic Council stayed away from the service at the Oslo Cathedral yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA, saying that the Council itself wanted to participate with a speech emphasizing the general value of human life. But by the time this proposal was made the speakers had already been chosen. Perhaps preparations for the commemorative service were a little too rushed? However, Bishop Gunnar Stålsett promised beforehand to include in his sermon those aspects sought after by the Islamic Council. And he kept his word. The Islamic Council would have done better to put their trust in the Bishop and take part in the service at the Oslo Cathedral. On September 11 it should have been possible to stand together – regardless of cultural, religious and political differences – to promote peace and understanding, and demonstrate opposition to international terrorism.