The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo
Press Division

Norway Daily No. 226/00

Date: 23 November 2000

CARBON QUOTAS UNDER WAY (Aftenposten)

While the world’s environment politicians struggle to establish rules for quota trading and other measures to curtail greenhouse gas emissions, several quota-trading companies are being launched in Norway. "As long as quota trading is not limited to any great degree, I believe that the market will function as it should and produce the most economical emissions reductions," says Carlton Bartels of the company CO2e.com.

MAJORITY IN FAVOUR OF JOINT CUSTODY (Dagsavisen)

During the course of the spring the Storting will most likely adopt new legislation regarding the custody of children in divorce cases. The mother will no longer be given the main responsibility for child care in the event that parents do not agree on who should have the children on a daily basis. The Labour Party has changed its viewpoint as a result of recent studies indicating that children who grow up with joint custody are best equipped to deal with the stress of their parents’ broken marriage.

REINDEER HUSBANDRY ADMINISTRATION SHARPLY CRITICIZED (Nationen)

The Norwegian Reindeer Husbandry Administration is sharply criticized in a recent research report. It has too few employees and too little expertise to deal competently with the problems that arise in this industry. For instance, only two of the Administration’s employees have a degree in law. A total of 40 people are responsible for administering the entire government policy in this industry.

ADVISING AGAINST BREAST CANCER SCREENING (Aftenposten)

The research centre Det Nordiske Cochrane Center has concluded that screening for breast cancer does not necessarily save more lives, nor does it reduce the number of women who require mastectomies. In the view of researcher Peter Gøtzsche, screening may lead to unnecessary mastectomies. The Cancer Registry of Norway believes that these results are wrong, and maintains that the mortality rate will be cut in half within a few years as a result of the screening process.

CAUTIONS AGAINST LISTING ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE (Dagens Næringsliv)

The stock market reeled throughout the world yesterday. The stocks that were hit worst were IT and telecom shares, which plunged five per cent on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Foreign brokerage firms are now advising Telenor against being listed on the stock exchange. "Any company that goes public now must count on selling its shares at a considerable discount," says Lennart Söderberg at Handelsbanken Markets.

POLICE MUST CLEAN UP FISHERIES SECTOR (Aftenposten)

Cheating in the fisheries sector is a major problem, according to the Directorate of Fisheries. Last year the Directorate had the capacity to check only one half per cent of the 400 000 fishing boats arriving in port with their catches. The Directorate calls for a change of attitude in the industry, and is asking the police to prosecute these cases more vigorously and to seek stiffer sentences.

WORTH NOTING

• Sixty per cent of married Norwegian men and 50 per cent of married Norwegian women would not tell their spouses if they were unfaithful, according to the world’s most comprehensive survey, Planet Project. Norwegian women between the ages of 21 and 24 are the most candid: only 26 per cent of them would lie about unfaithfulness, compared with 58 per cent of married women between the ages of 30 and 39. ( Verdens Gang)
• Norwegian business and industrial leaders miss Gro Harlem Brundtland. It has become more difficult to be a capitalist in Norway with Jens Stoltenberg as prime minister, according to Finn Bergesen Jr., chairman of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry. ( Dagbladet)
• The value of voluntary work in sports clubs in Norway is over NOK 6.5 billion, according to the Institute for Social Research. Sport is the fourth largest industry in the country in terms of the amount of time invested. ( Vårt Land)
• Svenske Vin & Sprit AB, a state-run Swedish company, may gain control of the production of Norwegian aquavit. It will be one of the most likely bidders when the Norwegian Government sells Arcus, the production division of the former Vinmonopolet, the state-owned wine and spirits monopoly. ( Nationen)
• Bishop Odd Bondevik wants shops to be closed on Sundays in December. "Tranquillity, peace and contemplation cannot be bought," is his message today when he meets with the Molde business community. ( Dagsavisen)

TODAY'S COMMENT from Dagsavisen:

Carl I. Hagen continues his crusade against party colleagues who express opinions that differ from his own. We repeat: there is something Stalinist about Mr. Hagen’s methods. Members of his own party who do not do exactly what he orders are to be removed and punished. The Oslo Progress Party, previously the bulwark of the national party, is coming apart at the seams. Members of the party’s Storting group are protesting, and a new party schism may be in the offing. For once we agree with MPs Vidar Kleppe, Jan Simonsen and Fridtjof Frank Gundersen, who protest the party leadership’s plans to get rid of MP and party county chairman Dag Danielsen. If Mr. Hagen’s party had consisted only of a small group, he could have done whatever he liked, and we would not react. But Mr. Hagen is seeking government power. He could be appointed prime minister if the Progress Party performs as well in the election as it does in current polls. In this situation it is important that the voters know that Mr. Hagen is using Stalinist methods to run his party.