Official Opening of the Barents Days 2007

Dear friends,

Welcome to the Barents Days 2007! I am impressed to see such a high number of people gathered for this years Barents Days, in so beautiful surroundings here in Bodø. The broad participation clearly illustrates the numerous contacts and links that form the people-to-people network in the Barents region, including the important cooperation between indigenous peoples in the area. The region’s rich cultural life naturally also has a key place in the arrangement.  

To make visible and strengthen these ties: This is exactly the main idea behind the idea to arrange Barents Days. Ties that for long time have played – and today even more – play such an important role in the Barents region. Ties that need to be renewed, strengthened and even extended into new areas regarded to be in our common interest.  

The first Barents days, successfully held in Tromsø, has a particular focus on the youth. This year Bodø is our host. Our focus is borderless development through cooperation, particularly in the areas of the environment, climate change, and education and skills development.  

I take this opportunity to warmly thank all those having been involved in the preparation of this year’s events. I am convinced that we all will bring with us renewed knowledge, friendship and inspiration from this year’s broad spectre of activities.  

Throughout history there has been close connections between the countries comprising the Barents area. During the Napoleonic wars 1809 – 1815 the people of Nordland suffered from famine. Thanks to the brave men at Nyholm Bastion the English blockade failed and the corn coming from Arkhangelsk could be unloaded saving many lives.  

I am honoured to have some of their successors here today helping me to literarily intensify the official opening of the Barents Days 2007.

I hereby declare The Barents Days 2007 in Bodø opened.

Let General von Krogh (the mobile cannon named after the first Commander at Nyholm Bastion) make his contribution.