Mona Juul could face the sack (Aftenposten)

Foreign Ministry spokesman Karsten Klepsvik says he cannot rule out the possibility of Mona Juul losing her job as Norway’s Ambassador to Israel. The Foreign Ministry yesterday concluded that Ms Juul had violated the provisions of the Civil Service Act when she failed to inform the Ministry of the prize money she and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, received in 1999. The Foreign Ministry will now consider what, if any, reaction to take with regard to Ms Juul. However, Mr Klepsvik was at pains to underline the seriousness of the affair, describing the couple’s actions as "a clear violation of the Civil Service Act and a breach of trust".

Mona Juul will not be fired (Dagsavisen)

Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen have violated the provisions of the Civil Service Act. The Foreign Ministry could respond with anything from a severe dressing down to Ms Juul’s recall as ambassador. It is Foreign Minister Jan Petersen personally who holds Ambassador Mona Juul’s fate in his hands. He will decide what punishment the Foreign Ministry will mete out on the Ambassador, following the Ministry’s conclusion that she has violated Section 20 of the Civil Service Act. "These two have been employed in the civil service and in political positions. It is clear that this should be treated as a personnel matter and not as an exercise in party political point scoring," said Foreign Minister Jan Petersen.

Rød-Larsen must be shielded (Dagbladet)

Åslaug Haga, the Centre Party’s deputy leader and foreign affairs spokesperson, has called for Ambassador Mona Juul to be given as mild a punishment as possible in order to spare her husband embarrassment as UN Special Envoy to the Middle East. "That the couple violated the Civil Service Act is an obvious conclusion. The most important thing is to shield Terje Rød-Larsen in the important job he is doing. I am concerned that too severe a penalty will weaken Mr Rød-Larsen’s position as UN Special Envoy," said Ms Haga.

Gave ammunition to enemies of peace (Aftenposten)

Ambassador Mona Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, acted most unwisely in giving ammunition to those who are intent on damaging the peace process in the Middle East," said Stein Tønnesson, head of the International Peace Research Institute (PRIO) in Oslo. "I hope that the damage will be limited by the couple repaying the money or donating it to charity. If this is done immediately we could perhaps put this unfortunate incident behind us," said Mr Tønnesson.

Restaurant smoking to be banned (Verdens Gang)

Health Minister Dagfinn Høybråten (Chr.Dem) yesterday won cabinet support for his proposal to change current legislation aimed at preventing the harmful effects of tobacco and impose a total ban on smoking in all restaurants, pubs, bars and discos in this country. This would give Norway the most restrictive anti-smoking legislation in the world. According to Mr Høybråten the same ban has only previously been imposed in several US states, Australia, and New Zealand. "Yes, we aim to be at the forefront of developments in this field," he admitted.

Jagland felled by his own trap (Aftenposten)

Many people in the Labour Party believe Thorbjørn Jagland tried to lay a trap for Jens Stoltenberg in January when he attempted to force Mr Stoltenberg to declare publicly whether he intended to run for the party leadership. Mr Jagland gave the impression he was speaking on behalf of them both, but the move came as a complete surprise to Mr Stoltenberg. In the end Mr Jagland’s ploy rebounded on himself. This is the picture supporters on both sides paint of last winter’s leadership battle in the Labour Party.

No gas pipeline to Poland (Aftenposten)

In September last year the previous Polish government signed an agreement to buy 74 billion cubic metres of North Sea gas at a total value of NOK 100 billion. Delivery was to start in 2008 and last for 16 years. But last autumn a new government, which has never been keen on the gas agreement with Norway, came to power in Poland. In connection with the Polish deal, a separate gas pipeline was to have been built from the west of Norway to the highly industrialized Grenland district. However, no one now believes this pipeline will be built.

Labour and Centre Party in agriculture deal (Nationen)

There seems to have been a meeting of minds between the Centre Party’s Marit Arnstad and Labour’s Aud Gaundal, who have arrived at an astonishing agricultural policy compromise. The deal covers six key agricultural policy issues. The two are now challenging Agriculture Minister Lars Sponheim and the coalition government in connection with the current round of negotiations on agricultural subsidies. "Choose between the support of the Progress Party or the new Centre Party/Labour alliance," they say.

Worth Noting

1. "If it is the case that we have not complied with out duty to notify the Foreign Ministry, then I apologise. I do not wish to comment on the matter other than to say that I am, of course, very sorry," said Mona Juul. (Dagbladet)
2. Two pharmaceutical companies have spent a total of NOK 300,000-400,000 to persuade MPs to vote in favour of making IVF treatment free of charge. (Aftenposten)
3. Inge Lønning (Con) has reacted strongly to Carl I. Hagen’s argument for giving financial support for IVF fertility treatment. It is only in "totalitarian states that the authorities give support to the production of more children," he said. The Socialist Left Party is blocking a parliamentary majority in favour of making IVF treatment free of charge for infertile couples. (Vårt Land)
4. They are holding their noses, but have realized that the road to political influence goes past Carl I. Hagen’s door. Political scientist Bernt Aardal believes the Socialist Left Party and the Labour Party are helping to make the Progress Party politically acceptable. (Dagsavisen)
5. The Office of the Auditor General has criticized the Immigration Directorate (UDI) for the unacceptably long time it spends processing applications for residence in this country. The situation for the self-declared ‘focus area’, unaccompanied juvenile asylum-seekers, is particularly bad. The time spent processing these youngsters’ applications has risen from 15 to 41 weeks in two years. (Dagens Næringsliv)
6. Aslak Sira Myhre, leader of the Red Election Alliance, has been sentenced to 90 days in gaol for refusing to do his military service. He is refusing because he believes the main task of the Norwegian Armed Forces is no longer to defend the country against attack, but to operate outside its borders. (Dagbladet)
7. A number of Christian congregations and organizations have applied to the Banking, Insurance and Securities Commission for a licence to set up a merchant bank. The aim is to have accumulated NOK 1 billion in total assets within a three-year period. (Dagens Næringsliv)

Today’s comment from Aftenposten

Figures from Statistics Norway show that the cost of domestic air travel has risen by 50 per cent over the past three years. So it is hardly surprising that air traffic is in free fall and that the domestic market has been worst hit. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) wants to make it easier for cut-price airlines to establish routes in Norway. Among the measures being considered is a cut in the controversial Norwegian airport taxes. With this obstacle out of the way it would be possible to generate competition between the airlines, which would in turn force down ticket fares. We welcome the CAA’s initiative. After its acquisition of Braathens, SAS finds itself with a monopoly which does not serve the interests of airline passengers. At the same time it is clear that a cut-price airline which flies domestic routes and offers cheaper tickets will attract more passengers onto its planes. The main reason behind the dramatic downturn which is currently threatening the Norwegian domestic market is that it has become too expensive to fly. When SAS does not itself understand that the company must offer its passengers cheaper tickets to halt the dramatic decline in domestic air travel, the authorities must take drastic measures.