Press

“The Government is deeply concerned about the situation in Syria. It is both dangerous and unacceptable, and is looking more and more like a civil war. This is underscored by the latest, unconfirmed reports of new attacks in Homs,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

"I would like to express my deepest condoleances to Egypt and the Egyptian people after the tragical events at the football match in Port Said yesterday evening. My thoughts especially go to those who lost family members or near ones", says Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “Norway strongly condemns the increasing use of violence in Syria, where thousands have been killed. We deeply deplore the Syrian authorities’ gross human rights violations against the country’s own population.”

“I condemn the killing of the Secretary-General of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Dr Abd-al-Razzaq Jbeiro, in the strongest possible terms. Volunteers from the Syrian Red Crescent give life-saving first aid to the wounded and injured in an impartial and neutral way. I am deeply concerned by the lack of respect for their efforts. Norway calls on all the parties to the conflict in Syria to respect humanitarian personnel and ensure their safety,” commented 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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “I am very pleased that a considerable number of political prisoners have been released in Myanmar. This is an important step forward on the country’s path to democracy, peace and reconciliation.”

“I condemn the recent brutal attacks that have affected so many Iraqis in the strongest possible terms. The meaningless wave of violence in Iraq is further exacerbating the unstable political situation in the country,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre. The attack on 5 January alone claimed at least 70 lives, and more than 100 people were injured. The deadliest attack targeted Shia Muslim pilgrims on their way to the holy city of Karbala, while the other attacks took place in the Shia-dominated Sadr City and Kadhimiya districts of Baghdad. “The sectarian nature of the violen...

Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Norway is helping to facilitate dialogue between the two communities on the divided island of Cyprus. A large proportion of the funds provided in the period up to 2014 are earmarked for civil society support. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Nicosia this afternoon.

From 12 to 15 December Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is visiting the South Pole to mark the centenary of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team reaching the Pole in 1911, and to underline the importance of the Antarctic continent in relation to global climate change.

“The parliamentary elections in Morocco are an important step in the country’s democratisation process. I am pleased that the elections were conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.