A policy of engagement. Norwegian peace policy

Minister’s speaking points
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Introduction
- Carleton University. Thank the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Professor Fen Hampson.
- University motto: Our’s the task eternal (from a poem by Walt Whitman). Quite fitting for those engaged in the task of peace and security.

Norway and Canada
- Historically: Tens of thousands of Norwegians have immigrated to Canada and found a new home here, 350 000 Canadians of Norwegian descent. During the Second World War, Norway trained its air force in “Little Norway” outside Toronto.
- Geir Lundestad: “Whenever Norway feels alone in the world, we hold a Canadian-Norwegian meeting of foreign ministers.”
- Norway and Canada share a global commitment to peace and human rights. Founding members of NATO, the OSCE and the United Nations.
- Partners in the Utstein Group, where development ministers from like-minded countries meet to set new standards for development assistance.
- Cooperate closely on solving the problems caused by landmines, limiting the proliferation of small arms, and establishing international structures for criminal justice.
- Joint instigators of the human security agenda, the Lysøen cooperation.

Lester B. Pearson
- 50th anniversary of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize. Pearson received the prize for his efforts in stopping the Suez crisis from spreading. The United Nations Expeditionary Force - the first modern peacekeeping unit - separated the combatants and maintained the ceasefire for ten years.
- The chairman of the Nobel committee, Gunnar Jahn, called Pearson “the man who contributed more than anyone else to saving the world at that time.”
- Pearson was Minister of Foreign Affairs, and later also Prime Minister of Canada. He was also the chancellor of Carleton University from 1969 to 1972. Quote (1955): “The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants and for peace like retarded pygmies”.

A policy of engagement
- We face complex crises, where war, humanitarian needs and development challenges meet and intertwine. We share a responsibility to engage to prevent and solve armed conflict.
- Combined events of 9/11 and 11/9 have made engagement both possible and necessary.
- Conflicts cannot be isolated. They have a tendency to spread, unless we get involved. This is the rationale for the politics of engagement.
- Globalisation is making the world a better place. Millions are being lifted out of poverty. But millions are at the same time being left behind in the margins of globalisation.
- Local conflicts are a global concern.
- Many of the greatest challenges today arise in conflict areas far away.
- By helping others, we are also helping ourselves.
- We have an image of increased conflict and tension between the so-called Western and Muslim worlds. The extreme and polarising forces get a lot of attention.
- But there are also other forces that build bridges. We must support the bridge builders.
- Those using terror must be met with robust firmness. We have a right and a duty to protect ourselves.  But it matters how we do it.
- Military means are necessary, but it is only through demonstrating that there is a better option, through political and economic means, that we will be able to reduce the flow of recruits to the extremist groups.
- We need to remind ourselves of the power of “soft power”.
- We need to reach out across increasing religious and cultural divides. We cannot allow the conflict between “them” and “us” to escalate. We must seek a dialogue on what it takes to succeed as “we”.

The three tracks of Norwegian peace policy
1) Strengthen the international rule of law. Norway and Canada are best served by a world where the use of power is regulated (e.g. the UN).
2) Norway as the friend of its friends, developing partnerships with friends and allies. (e.g. NATO).
3) Norway acting to promote peace and development, where it has the opportunity to contribute. There are a number of conflicts where the UN is unable to play a role. Here Norway can make a difference.

Afghanistan
- Our contribution to international peacekeeping operations is a central part of our policy for peace and reconciliation. Afghanistan is a notable example (close to ten per cent of the entire Norwegian army is currently deployed there).
- Much has been achieved, but the situation remains very fragile.
- In my view, there are three keys to success:
1) A multifaceted approach to Afghanistan is needed.
2) Afghanisation is key to success.
3) International assistance must be increased.

Middle East
- Conflicts in and around the Middle East are interlinked.
- Continuous belt of conflicts, from Afghanistan, through the Middle East to the Horn of Africa and Darfur, a line from Kabul to Khartoum.
- Need for a regional solution based on an inclusive political process, and a need to support those that dare to seek such solutions. Norwegian-Spanish initiative, 15th anniversary of the Madrid conference.
- We support the agreement in Mecca to create a Palestinian coalition government.
- Hamas has committed itself to the agreements that the PLO has entered into with Israel, this implies the recognition of Israel and the choice of negotiation as a means of ending the Israeli occupation.
- Message from the international community should be clear: coalition government means resumption of normal relations with the Palestinian Authority.
- President Abbas’s accomplishment is our best option. The alternative to a coalition government is civil war and increased Palestinian extremism, a disaster for the Palestinians, a grave threat to the security of Israel, and a serious impediment to the resumption of talks between Palestinians and Israelis.
- Special credit to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the League of Arab States for their role in making the coalition government happen. Demonstrates that there is will among regional actors to handle the political challenges in their own region.
- Task facing us: to build on what has been achieved, and promote negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
- Our demands to Israel remain: as the stronger party, it must show a real willingness to negotiate, in both word and deed.

Sri Lanka, four lessons
1) The parties to the conflict – the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) and the Government - are responsible for finding a solution to the conflict. The international community can only assist them in their efforts.
2) A solution to the conflict must be based on a political settlement. In Sri Lanka the idea of a military solution has again won support. “War for peace” doesn’t work.
3) The international community must both support the parties and hold them accountable for the agreed steps and pledges. Agreements must be respected and implemented. Few things are more damaging to the trust between the parties than failure to implement promises made in the peace process.
4) Peace takes patience and a long-term perspective. The parties in Sri Lanka have been fighting for over 20 years, and more than 65 000 people have been killed. There are no “quick fixes”.

Six characteristics of Norwegian peace policy
1) Consistent, stable through changes of government, and efforts concentrated on a small number of processes.
2) Long-term approach to peace efforts, based on broad political agreement on our peace policy.
3) Interplay between humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and peace efforts. Norwegian engagements emanate from humanitarian activities. Humanitarian efforts give us a large toolbox.
4) Cooperation with NGOs. Norwegian NGOs and research institutions have played key roles, both as instigators and as implementers of Norwegian involvement in peace processes. Particular characteristic of the Norwegian model: the way in which NGOs are involved. Close cooperation between state and independent actors.
5) Bring our values into peace processes. Being an impartial facilitator does not mean suspension of values. Norway is asked to contribute because of its high profile on human rights and international humanitarian law. We are impartial, but never neutral. We mainstream values into peace engagements. Human rights are one example. Another is gender, SCR 1325.
6) Importance of international cooperation. Our involvement in the UN and our close relations with many of the world’s powerful countries are vital for Norway’s role in peace efforts. In several conflicts, Norway has preparatory, complementary and supportive roles to UN efforts (Guatemala, the Middle East). Norway’s peace efforts are not a one-man show.

Developing knowledge about peace processes
- Even though all peace processes are unique, much of what is learned from one process can be applied to the next.
- We seek to make our peace and reconciliation efforts more professional, e.g. by devoting considerable resources to research on peace process-related questions and to retreats, seminars and conferences where mediators gather and share experiences.

Three lessons learned from peace processes
1) Conflict after conflict demonstrates the importance of good governance and viable government institutions. Unequal distribution of economic and political power causes conflict, and governance deficits make conflicts unmanageable.
2) A second lesson is that the conflicts have bearing on our own security and welfare. We are moved as fellow human beings when we see injustice and suffering, and we need peace and security “out there” if we are to be safe “back home”.
3) And finally, the most important lesson learned from peace processes: in the end you have to find a political, negotiated solution to conflicts. We must create dialogue both internally in countries and across borders. We must pull states and political, social and religious groups into the political processes. We can’t afford to leave them stranded on the outside.
E.g. Nelson Mandela. Could have pursued the path of violence when he was released from prison. But he chose the path of dialogue. Saved South Africa from a devastating civil war. The brave leader chooses a political solution sooner rather than later.

In sum
Non-involvement, non-dialogue, is not an option. We need a policy of engagement.