In today’s session of the Council of State, the Prince Regent has adjusted the distribution of responsibility between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, and the Minister for International Development, Ms. Anne Kristin Sydnes. The adjustment implies that the responsibility for grants at natural disasters, and the responsibility for grants to the Palestinian Area, has been transferred to Ms. Sydnes.

Ms. Sydnes already holds the responsibility for development co-operation outside the OSCE area. Mr. Jagland is responsible for the organising, coordination and implementation of Norwegian foreign policy, including the country’s role in the Middle East peace process. Mr. Jagland also holds the responsibility for human rights efforts, humanitarian aid and refugee work.

The reason for today’s adjustment is the need to link emergency aid to Norway’s more long-term development co-operation, and also that the country’s grants to the Palestinian Area more has the character of traditional aid than humanitarian and refugee aid.

Jens Stoltenberg’s government was appointed on 17 March 2000. It represents the Labour Party. The Government has the following members:

Prime Minister:
Mr. Jens Stoltenberg

Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland

Minister of Defence:
Mr. Bjørn Tore Godal

Minister of Trade and Industry:
also responsible for the coordination of government policy on information technology:
Ms. Grete Knudsen

Minister of Labour and Government Administration,
also responsible for the coordination of matters of Nordic cooperation:
Mr. Jørgen Kosmo

Minister of Finance:
Mr. Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development:
Ms. Sylvia Brustad

Minister of Health:
Mr. Tore Tønne

Minister of Cultural Affairs:
Ms. Ellen Horn

Minister of Social Affairs:
Ms. Guri Ingebrigtsen

Minister of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Terje Moe Gustavsen

Minister of Fisheries:
Mr. Otto Gregussen

Minister of International Development,
also deputy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Ms. Anne Kristin Sydnes

Minister of the Environment:
Ms. Siri Bjerke

Minister of Agriculture:
Mr. Bjarne Håkon Hanssen

Minister of Justice and the Police:
Ms. Hanne Harlem

Minister of Children and Family Affairs:
Ms. Karita Bekkemellem Orheim

Minister of Petroleum and Energy:
Mr. Olav Akselsen

Minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs:
Mr. Trond Giske