Press Releases from the Norwegian Government

The Government decided Friday that Myanmar should no longer be excluded from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). “This is a signal that Norway recognises the political reforms in Myanmar and hopes to see further democratic developments,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The Government has decided that it will no longer urge Norwegian companies to refrain from trade and investment in Myanmar. This was an exclusively Norwegian policy. The decision has been made in response to the progress being made in Myanmar. Norway continues to align itself with the EU sanction regime, which will be considered more closely in the course of the spring.

Today one hundred years have passed since Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his expedition became the first to reach the South Pole. In a speech at the South Pole Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg today honoured Amundsen and his men. He also paid tribute to the bravery of British explorer Robert F. Scott and his expedition.

Norway’s initiative has resulted in the unanimous adoption of a resolution in the UN General Assembly on strengthening the protection of human rights defenders and the right of peaceful protest. “This UN resolution throws into sharp relief the use of force against protesters that we are seeing in a number of countries. It strengthens our hand when we seek to make governments accountable for violence against peaceful protesters,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“In the white paper on the High North, the Government sets out ambitious goals for Norway’s efforts in the High North over the next 20–30 years. The main focus of the white paper is on foreign policy, but emphasis is also placed on how the High North policy is to promote employment and value creation across the country as a whole,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs commented, “The budget for 2012 reflects the fact that the High North is the Government’s most important strategic foreign policy priority. Our focus areas in the High North include petroleum exploration, simplified border-crossing procedures with Russia and a new technology building at the University of Tromsø.”

The Norwegian Government has allocated NOK 27.8 billion for development in poor countries in 2012. This is a record high aid budget. Efforts on climate change, renewable energy and agriculture will be intensified.

“Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes because of climate-related natural disasters. We have a collective responsibility to address this challenge,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“There can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya. Efforts to find a political solution must start now,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Today State Secretary Ingrid Fiskaa launched the new Taxation for Development programme, which is aimed at helping poor countries to increase their own tax revenues.