Press release

No.:
Date: 19.07.2006

Norway elected to chair important committee during UN General Assembly

On 18 July Ambassador Mona Juul was elected to chair the First Committee during this autumn’s UN General Assembly session. This is the committee that deals with issues related to international security and disarmament.

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre underscored that Norway plays an active, key role in international efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to achieve further reductions in nuclear arsenals . In recent years Norway has worked to strengthen the First Committee and make it more effective. Norway is advocating that the Committee should deal with the humanitarian challenges posed by certain conventional weapons, such as cluster munitions, landmines and illicitly traded small arms.

“Mona Juul’s election to chair the First Committee during this year’s session of the General Assembly is a recognition of Norway’s strong commitment to the UN and to multilateral disarmament. The post will serve as an important platform for Norway’s efforts to make headway in international disarmament and non-proliferation,” said Mr Støre.

Ambassador Juul has previously served as State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Norway’s Ambassador to Israel. Since 2005 she has been serving at Norway’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.