Humiliation of foreign diplomats to be investigated (Dagbladet)

Security controls at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport have become such an embarrassment for the Norwegian government that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an investigation into the treatment of foreign diplomats. India’s ambassador to Norway, Nirupam Sen, has twice been subject to a strip search, despite the fact that he has presented his diplomatic passport. The latest incident took place this summer when Mr Sen was travelling to India. At the security checkpoint he was pulled to one side and subjected to a complete check. The fact that he immediately identified himself as the senior diplomatic representative to Norway of the world’s second most populous nation did not help at all. Secretary General Bjarne Lindstrøm, the Foreign office’s senior civil servant, has confirmed that he is aware of the case. "It is, of course, extremely regrettable that a diplomat should have experienced something like this," said Mr Lindstrøm.

Journalists for hire (Dagens Næringsliv)

TV2 Interaktiv has hired out its own journalists to Telenor, and VG Nett has an agreement to provide editorial coverage of Volvo in return for cash. Per Edgar Kokkvold, General Secretary of the Norwegian Press Association, says the agreements are problematic in relation to several of the media’s own rules of conduct. "These are murky waters for journalists to be manoeuvring in. No newsman who has been taught what journalism is all about can claim that this is not a problem," said Mr Kokkvold. VG Nett’s editor-in-chief, Torry Pedersen, makes no effort to hide why his internet-based newspaper has in short order written almost 30 articles on the Volvo Ocean Race.

Restrictions on private schools to be removed (Dagsavisen)

When the new government takes office the way could be wide open for those who wish to establish private schools in Norway. Education Minister Trond Giske has provoked the Christian Democrats so much that the party is now moving closer to the Conservatives’ model. Up to now the Christian Democrats have supported the requirements in today’s legislation covering private schools, which says that private schools must represent an alternative to state schools in terms of teaching methods or religious persuasion, if they are to receive permission to open. However, an internal memo detailing the status of the coalition negotiations between the Christian Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals at the beginning of last week, indicates that the parties at that time had agreed that the Private Schools Act should be amended so that all those who meet specific quality requirements would be allowed to open an independent school. Pupils in state and private schools would be eligible for the same amount in government funding.

Battle over Presidency of the Storting (Dagbladet/Aftenposten/Dagens Næringsliv)

For the first time in 30 years there could be a head-to-head fight over who should be elected President of the Storting. If the new coalition partners do go ahead and propose Carl I. Hagen for the position, which is ranked in seniority second only to the King, the Labour Party will put up an opposing candidate. The Labour candidate could be Jørgen Kosmo, who would in that case have to resign as Labour and Government Administration Minister on Friday. Outgoing President of the Storting, Kirsti Kolle Grøndahl has warned against Mr Hagen, both because of his more or less open attempts to score political points by playing on anti-immigrant feeling, and because of the way he handled the rebellion in his own party last winter. Many Christian Democrat, Conservative and Liberal MPs agree with Ms Kolle Grøndahl.

Upgrade of EEA Agreement still possible (Aftenposten)

The Labour government has said no to renegotiating the EEA Agreement. But EFTA and the civil service are still working on a "technical upgrade". Before the election State Secretary Espen Barth Eide said that renegotiating the treaty was out of the question. We would have more to lose than gain from such a renegotiation, said Mr Barth Eide, who pointed to the risk of "opening the flood gates to a tidal wave of counter-claims from southern European EU members who have long been critical of the EEA Agreement".

Government to share salary expenses (Aftenposten)

Labour and Government Administration Minister Jørgen Kosmo has proposed that the Government should pay half the salary costs incurred by employers who take on staff receiving invalidity benefits. Invalidity benefit payouts amount to billions of kroner, which is why the Government is offering employers a salary compensation package if they employ individuals claiming invalidity benefits who wish to return to the workforce. Each person receiving invalidity benefits costs the Government on average NOK 1.5 billion. Ten per cent of all Norwegians of working age are currently receiving invalidity benefits. This figure is extremely high compared to other western countries.

Worth Noting

• During the secret negotiations to form a new coalition government the Conservatives have agreed to a "time-out" for the construction of any more emission-producing gas-fired power stations. A time-out would mean that the coalition government would not grant any additional operating licences or emission permits before an internationally agreed quota system is in place. (Verdens Gang)
• A new suitor has sent a letter to Braathens’ management indicating its interest in the airline. But Braathens still only has eyes for SAS. In addition, it is thought that investor Trygve Hegnar is still interested in the ailing airline. (Dagbladet)
• People living in rural areas smoke more than those who live in towns. The main reason is that new trends take longer to reach rural areas. (Nationen)
• The state-owned National Insurance Fund, led by CEO Tore Lindholt, has suffered enormous losses on the stock market. Disastrous investments in Kværner, RCCL and Enitel have cost the Fund billions of kroner in the past few months. The Fund has probably lost NOK 4-5 billion on its share portfolio since the start of the year. (Dagbladet)
• Labour and Government Administration Minister Jørgen Kosmo is working flat out to finalize an agreement with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) on sick leave. The parties agree that the level of sick leave should be cut by 20 per cent by 2005. But a row over sick pay could derail the agreement. The dispute is due to be decided today. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Each year police in Oslo spend NOK 100 million and tie up a large number of officers on prisoner transport duties. The security company, Falken, has now offered to do the job for NOK 30 million. The three parties which will probably form the next coalition government are all in favour of reorganizing the way prisoners are transported. (Dagsavisen)
• A research project aimed at uncovering the level of violence used against pets is now in full swing. The project, which is the first of its type in this country, is financed by the Research Council of Norway and is being led by Guri Larsen of the University of Oslo’s Department of Criminology. (Dagsavisen)
• Women suffering from epilepsy become pregnant even though they are taking the pill. The drugs used to treat epilepsy counteract the effects of the contraceptive pill. (Dagsavisen)
• If Iceland decides to join the EU, membership would also be placed on the political agenda in Norway, says Conservative deputy chairman Inge Lønning. He will not give any guarantees that no application for membership will be sent during this coming parliamentary term. (Klassekampen)

Today’s comment from Nationen

The owners of Mosjøen Veveri are thinking of closing the plant, which is the district’s industrial cornerstone and employs some 150 people, despite the fact that it is operating at a profit. The company’s owners want to move production to its three other plants in Norway Sweden and Finland…

At the Sem Gjestegård conference centre in Asker, just outside Oslo, the Conservatives, Christian Democrats and Liberals are spending this week negotiating the political platform for a new coalition government. In Norway, regional affairs policy is one of the most important areas regardless of who is in power. The problem is just that an effective and sensible regional affairs policy presumes cooperation and a mutual understanding between the politicians and the capitalists. Nationen has raised this problem on numerous occasions. And we are more than willing to repeat our message. If the capitalists and business executives do not mend their ways, the politicians’ well-meaning efforts will amount to nothing more than hot air. They cannot do the job alone. If investors are only concerned with profits, they no longer deserve to benefit from the many state-funded support schemes.