Introduction
Dear Colleagues, Ladies and
Gentlemen.
Defence in our time is about being flexible. Our
Armed Forces operate in areas that differ hugely. I have seen this
for myself. In the North the stormy weather, cold and darkness call
for special skills, while in operations abroad we have to deal with
tropical heat and sand. The cultural differences encountered are
also great.
This means that missions will vary
enormously. The men and women of our Armed Forces have to act on
behalf of our country both at sea in northern waters and when
meeting villagers in Afghanistan. They have kept their Norwegian
values and a robust commitment to international law with them at
all times.
My first 100 days as Defence Minister are almost
over. So I am both honoured and delighted to have been invited to
address the Society on this traditional occasion. It affords a good
opportunity for me to mark out the way ahead as seen by the
Stoltenberg II government in terms of security and defence
policy.
As Defence Minister with political
responsibility for this country’s instruments of military power, it
is with humility and respect that I have set about my task.
Nevertheless I will not shirk difficult decisions when they have to
be made.
The world is changing. Norway must
move on, and so must our Armed Forces.
The Soria Moria declaration sets out the point of
departure for the work of this government for the next four years.
It defines the character and direction of our policies in areas
including security and defence. In three areas in particular, we
have especially clear ambitions.
Firstly, the Government will continue the process
of modernising the Armed Forces set in motion by the Stoltenberg I
government at the start of this decade. The focus here must be on
our operational defence capability. The resources that we allocate
for military purposes must be used in ways that enable the Armed
Forces to fulfil their missions in the best way possible.
Secondly, the Government will give particular
attention to the northern areas. This is the most strategically
important area for investment in the coming years. The driving
force here stems from the enormous possibilities in this region.
But we face substantial challenges and the Armed Forces will
continue to play a vital role in the North.
And thirdly, globalisation is one of the most
important features of the times we live in. The Government well
appreciates that this has consequences for our security and defence
policy. That is why we wish to make an active contribution to the
promotion of the international rule of law based on the United
Nations charter and the tenets of international law. Norwegian
involvement in UN operations will be increased. Both the UN and
NATO remain cornerstones of Norwegian security and defence
policy.
These themes provide the structure for my message
this evening. I should like to begin by considering the
international situation, then focus on the northern areas, and then
conclude by addressing the further development of the Armed
Forces.
The Armed Forces as an international tool
Norway has, in modern times, been
an active participant in the cause of international security ever
since acceding to the United Nations Charter in 1945. A new
dimension was added when we took part in the establishment of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in 1949. Our experiences during
the Second World War formed the backdrop to these actions.
The Cold War obliged the Norwegian Armed Forces to
concentrate their activities here at home, essentially due to
Norwegian’s geographical position on NATO’s northern flank. Even
though Alliance plans and exercises were based on the insertion of
mobile forces in exposed areas, Norwegian defence was essentially
static.
Norway made preparations for the
reception of allied forces and constructed military camps and
defensive installations. But for many of our allies, the protection
of the northern flank meant an international operation – and
fortunately this concept was bolstered by extensive plans and
exercises. Norwegian operations abroad were thus seen as a form of
supplementary activity.
This is the main reason why the business of
modernisation has been a more demanding process for us
than for many of our allies. Only after the fall of the Berlin Wall
could our obligations be viewed in their entirety. They could then
be seen against the background of a new security situation, a new
and more complex threat picture in which geographical distances
were of less significance, and a general increase in mutual
dependence between nations and regions.
Today we are experiencing increased
acknowledgement of the international community’s obligation to
contribute towards the establishment of stability, democracy and
the observance of human rights; a course of action which also
serves to enhance our own security in the world around us. We are
therefore reshaping our military capabilities to include a closer
focus on international operations.
The previous Stoltenberg government set about
loosening Norwegian defence from the grip of the Cold War in
earnest and made a start on the essential process of restructuring
and modernising the Armed Forces.
All of us who work in defence –
both politicians and the military, and not least service families –
have learned a lot in a very short time.
- Politicians have learned a lot about what
international operations entail. When we in the Government take a
political decision about military participation in an operation –
whether it be at home or abroad – the men and women of the Armed
Forces must know that they will have our fullest support.
- The military have also adapted. Service abroad
has become a natural part of a military career.
Operations tend to take place in
conflict areas where the situation is complicated. The intensity of
the operation can vary widely. Our service personnel must therefore
always be trained and equipped for the most demanding missions when
they serve abroad. And while they are in the field they deserve,
and must be given, professional leadership of a high order.
And they must be given the proper
care and attention when they return home. Those who need it must be
given specialist care, both medical and psychosocial. It is vital
that we should take care of our men and women to the very best of
our ability when they have served their country in international
operations abroad.
The safety and security of service personnel is given very
high priority in military operations and is a factor given
much weight when we are considering the use of Norwegian
forces.
I have been greatly impressed by
the high professional standards maintained by our personnel and I
have witnessed for myself the importance of relevant experience and
being provided with the right training and equipment. But every
military operation inevitably involves a degree of risk.
We must, therefore, continue to
strive to ensure that this combination of competence, experience
and equipment is so good that it keeps our forces safe and secure
and allows them to carry out their missions in the best possible
way.
- The service families at home have also had to
adapt. I myself have had a son serving in Kosovo. There were many
questions that I asked myself. What could he expect? Was he in safe
hands? Did he know what he was doing? Did the officers know? Were
the politicians conscious of their responsibilities? I was
wondering the whole time how he was and I longed for the day when
he would be coming home again.
This experience has been useful to
me as Defence Minister. There are many families who have felt the
strain of having one of their own serving abroad in an
international operation which could last several months. The Armed
Forces are in the process of developing guidelines for looking
after family welfare in these circumstances and that is something
that I shall be following up. The quality of the contribution that
our men and women can make depends on them knowing that all is well
at home.
In future the Government will give priority to the
use of Norwegian forces under the auspices of formal multilateral
organisations rather than in so-called coalitions of states willing
to take part. This is partly because this will strengthen
international efforts to promote security and the international
rule of law. It is also partly because the political influence of
smaller countries like Norway can be exerted to better effect in
organisations which have a permanent structure.
The United Nations
The Government wishes to affirm and strengthen the clear
line that Norway has taken with regard to the UN, and
which has been a feature of its foreign and security policy, ever
since the end of the Second World War.
For many decades Norway has been an
active participant in the UN’s peace operations, but this
involvement has been greatly reduced in recent years. The Soria
Moria Declaration paves the way for a new increase in Norwegian
participation in UN-led operations, especially in Africa, the
continent which has had to endure the most dramatic conflicts in
recent times measured in terms of human suffering.
I should like to say something about developments within
the UN in order to explain why it is our ambition to
channel more of our efforts directly through this organisation.
Following the end of the Cold War
the UN conducted a number of peace operations that were larger and
far more ambitious than any attempted before. Even though some of
these were quite successful, it was clear in a number of cases that
there was no match between the challenges to be overcome and the
resources that contributing countries were willing to make
available.
Inability to stop the genocide in
Rwanda in 1994, and the tragic events in Srebrenica in 1995,
contributed to the belief that the UN’s own peace operations had
suffered a powerful shot across the bows. The number of officers
and soldiers in blue helmets fell from some 80,000 in 1993 to well
under 20,000 by the turn of the century.
Over the last few years the UN has
itself been addressing the challenges that the organisation faced
in the mid-1990s. The proposals contained in the Brahimi Report on
reform of the UN’s peacekeeping operations from the year 2000 –
which has received Norway’s active support – have to a large extent
been implemented. There are, however, a number of challenges
remaining.
Today’s UN operations are considerably more
integrated and robust than those of a decade ago. And more often
than previously they are covered by a Chapter VII mandate which
allows the use of force other than in self-defence, something which
has proved to be essential. At the same time arrangements have been
made to strengthen coordination between military, political,
humanitarian and development aspects during the transition from a
conflict situation to a lasting peace. We have also seen a marked
increase in the number of UN operations and the number of personnel
serving in them.
Today there are more than 80,000
men and women engaged in 18 peace operations, many of which have
only recently been initiated. A number of operations have been
concluded successfully. Both in East Timor and in Sierra Leone the
UN has achieved the objectives set for its military presence. The
remaining challenges will be mainly civil in nature.
Free and independent elections were
held in Liberia recently. As a result the country, for the first
time for many years, has a president who appears to be capable of
uniting the country. Even Congo – which until a few years had been
embroiled in Africa’s most extensive regional civil war – appears
to be showing some signs of progress thanks to the UN presence.
Today the UN has grown to become the largest player in
international peacekeeping. But this growth has taken
place without any real contribution from the rich countries of the
northern hemisphere. It is the mainly the larger countries of the
southern hemisphere, with Bangladesh, Pakistan and India in the
lead, that have shouldered the tasks involved.
Norwegian military contributions must be assessed
on the basis of the UN’s needs and the capabilities that Norway has
at its disposal – and which can be fruitfully employed. Good
examples are the units which can be made available for planning,
intelligence work, logistics and communications and which help to
make other countries’ contributions more effective. Combat elements
may also be appropriate.
The Nordic countries have worked
together previously in providing the UN with various capabilities.
The Government has taken up the question of renewing this
cooperation.
The use of Norwegian forces must be firmly based on
international law. This will normally mean operating with
a mandate from the UN Security Council in accordance with Chapters
VI or VII of the Charter. But other situations for which provision
is made under international law, such as action in self-defence or
with the consent of the parties concerned, may also provide a basis
for Norwegian involvement.
International law also provides an important
framework for conduct in military operations. A single
error may have far-reaching consequences. One of the aims of
engaging in operations abroad must be to foster respect for human
rights and the provisions of international law.
It is for this reason that the
Government has taken the initiative to conclude an agreement with
the Afghan authorities. The purpose of the agreement is to ensure
that it will be possible to make sure that persons handed over by
Norwegian forces to the Afghan authorities are treated in
accordance with international human rights.
The agreement is to ensure that
personnel handed over do not face the risk of torture or the death
penalty. In addition, both Norwegian forces and any specified
independent third parties must have access to such persons while
they remain in the custody of the Afghan authorities.
The Government will work to support
and strengthen the fight against terrorism with regard to both
effectiveness and legitimacy.
We will continue to make sure that our personnel are well
versed in the provisions of agreements, conventions and
the rules of engagement. They must be sure of themselves and of the
framework within which an operation is being conducted. This is a
matter of military professionalism.
Women are often the main victims of contemporary
conflicts. But experience has also shown that women can
often play an important role in conflict resolution. UN Security
Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security is therefore
very important.
As a follow-up action, the
Secretary-General produced a report in October last year. This
report presents a broad plan of action.
The Government is to produce a
Norwegian plan for following up
this resolution and we have embarked on a study of the role of the
Armed Forces in this area. Ensuring awareness of the role of women
in the societies in which our forces will be operating will form a
natural part of our pre-deployment preparations.
This is one of the reasons why it
is important to focus on the role of women in the Armed Forces.
Today the proportion of women in the services is unfortunately only
about seven percent. This is a low figure compared with other areas
of society. From this year onwards we will be inviting young women
to attend a voluntary interview session. I expect this to increase
women’s knowledge of life and conditions in the Armed Forces and
that, as a result, more will decide to join the team.
The reason I am concerned with this
is that a higher proportion of women in the services will in itself
contribute to a better defence organisation. For the same reason,
therefore, we will be focusing especially on achieving a higher
proportion of women in senior defence posts.
NATO
In Dagbladet, just after Christmas,
Halvor Alvik raised the question of NATO and how Norwegian security
policy could remain firmly in position when the cornerstone itself
was moving. This is an important question, for membership of this
Alliance does form the cornerstone of Norwegian security
policy.
For the Alliance to remain strong
and relevant, it must develop further. And we cannot take it for
granted that other NATO members see the Alliance exactly as we do.
Europe and the United States do not always share identical
views.
As a member country we have to bear
our share of responsibility for ensuring that NATO develops in a
direction which we approve of and which benefits our interests.
It is in our interest that NATO should develop its
potential as a forum for political consultation. The need to
strengthen this function is pressing bearing in mind the
substantial enlargement of the Alliance in recent years and its new
military roles.
In an alliance context, the
transatlantic relationship is of paramount importance. Norway will
continue to foster its good relationship with the United States. At
the same time, it is good that friends should speak their minds to
each other. The Government will therefore continue to make Norway’s
standpoint clear in cases where American views do not coincide with
our own.
It is also in Norway’s interest that NATO should
remain powerful and effective as a military organisation.
It is precisely this military
dimension that make the Alliance unique. The integrated command
structure, the transatlantic military cooperation and the
capability to carry out demanding military operations are all
aspects of the Alliance that we will back to the full.
NATO’s operation in Afghanistan, ISAF, will be the
Alliance’s most difficult single operation so far.
I visited the Norwegian forces in
Afghanistan just before Christmas. I was impressed both by NATO’s
committed involvement and by the job that the Norwegian forces were
doing. The ISAF operation in Afghanistan is a clear indication that
NATO is matching up to its new role.
ISAF will remain Norway’s most
important military commitment abroad for a long time to come. The
operation has a clear UN mandate and is being led by NATO. The work
being done by Norwegian soldiers and their officers has at its
focus both the stabilisation of society and the reforms needed in
the security sector. In this way they are contributing to the
promotion of human rights in that country.
I am therefore satisfied with the
decision, taken by NATO before Christmas, to increase its
involvement in Afghanistan. The operational forces are being
strengthened, taking the total numbers from 9,000 up to 15,000, and
the area of operations is being geographically extended in the
south of the country. This increase is not excessive in view of the
tasks which we know NATO is facing.
The focus of Norway’s participation
Afghanistan in 2006 will gradually shift from Kabul to northern
Afghanistan. Norway is currently the lead nation for the
multinational regional stabilisation team in Maymaneh, and over the
early months of this year we shall be building up our forces in
Mazar-e-Sharif. In addition to support and staff elements, Norway
will contribute a rapid reaction force at company strength. This
means that Norway will be playing a central role in ISAF’s overall
operations in northern Afghanistan.
Norway will also be contributing four F-16 combat
aircraft for a period of three months. These aircraft will
operate out of Kabul but will be able to provide support. The
aircraft are of decisive importance to the successful conduct of
ISAF’s operations. They help NATO’s ground forces to gain the
respect of local warlords and show the population that they can
rely of NATO’s protection.
The aircraft also do much to ensure
the safety of our men and women in uniform on the ground who are
dispersed over wide geographical areas.
In Afghanistan military power is an indispensable
asset, but one which is totally inadequate on its own. The
security that we are helping to provide is absolutely essential to
the building of even the most elementary social structures.
The Government has set in motion
coordinated action by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry
of Justice and the Police, and the Ministry of Defence in order to
unify Norway’s contribution, the point being to make sure that aid
work and the work of military stabilisation are seen as parallel
and complementary activities. Security and the general development
of society are mutually dependent on one another.
When the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mohamed El
Baradei, gave his address just a short distance from here last
month, he expressed disappointment over world developments since
the end of the Cold War: the world had not seen an increase in
solidarity and inclusiveness. El Baradei maintained that even
though the wall between East and West had fallen, the work of
building bridges between North and South – between rich and poor –
still remains.
The state of the global community
therefore calls for a broad approach. The challenges we face need
to be seen in an overall perspective in which all our resources, in
addition to military force, must be put to use.
The European Union
Norway’s closest neighbours are
European. We want to continue to work with the EU.
The work of unifying European defence and security
policy is developing rapidly despite the fact that the
proposals for a European constitution have not been ratified. But,
in fact, the current arrangements are working well. The development
of rapid reaction forces and the establishment of the
European Defence Agency (EDA) are evidence of this.
The EU has a broad spectrum of
resources that can be brought into play in the cause of peace and
security, both in Europe and globally. The combination of economic,
political and military instruments available allows the EU’s rapid
reaction forces to be put into an overall context.
The EU’s intention is that its rapid reaction
forces should enhance the crisis management capability of
the UN. Africa is an area where this effect could be realised.
Norway is taking part in the planning and build-up of the Nordic
Rapid Reaction Force. This work is being led by Sweden with Finland
and Estonia also participating.
It is of paramount important for
Norway that the collaboration which has been established between
the EU and NATO should remain both open and constructive.
But the Norwegian Armed Forces’
principal
raison d’être is not just to take part in operations
abroad. It is also quite clear that we should devote most resources
to defence activities here at home.
The Armed Forces’ role in the North
The Government sees the northern
areas as the most strategically important area for Norwegian
investment in the coming years. The challenges we face in the North
are largely non-military in nature. Mainly they are about oil
and gas extraction, transport, the environment and the proper
husbanding of important marine resources.
But in these areas the Armed Forces
still have a central role to play, both in a security context and
through their presence as a part of the community. The Armed Forces
are also of pivotal importance to the upholding of Norwegian
sovereignty and the credible exercise of authority, as well as in
creating respect for Norwegian policies and the provisions of
international laws and regulations.
Our defence capability in the North
comprises three main elements.
Firstly, command and control functions. The
command and control of military forces requires both comprehensive
professional competence and the necessary infrastructure. Regional
Command North Norway bears the main responsibility for command and
control of the Armed Forces’ operations in the North and is
specifically structured for this purpose.
Secondly, the Armed Forces are well qualified and equipped
to monitor our areas of interest. Our surveillance covers
both Norwegian territory and sea areas round the clock – 365 days a
year. And it is salutary to remember that the sea areas that we are
monitoring cover an area more than six times that of mainland
Norway. The surveillance makes use of satellites, aircraft,
helicopters and ships, both on the surface and under water, as well
as land-based installations.
And thirdly, we have units which can be deployed
over large distances and which can maintain a presence over time.
Our reaction capability is good.
This is the case with the Coast
Guard for example. The incident involving the Russian trawler
Elektron in the autumn showed that our service personnel are well
equipped for their tasks and that they have the relevant competence
and expertise.
Our service units can be employed
in a broad spectrum of situations – and at very short notice. The
Air Force’s combat aircraft require only minutes to reach any part
of our territory should the need arise.
In sum, the Norwegian Armed Forces now possess a credible
reaction capability and have the capacity to carry out the
tasks with which they are entrusted.
The Government will continue to
develop the Armed Forces in the light of the general level of
activity in the North. Contact points between the military and
civil society, both public sector and non-governmental, are many
and varied. Coastal emergency planning and response, the Coast
Guard, the Home Guard and the rescue services are functions in
which the Armed Forces have a central contribution to make.
However, presence and credibility are not measured simply
in terms of
numbers of ships,
aircraft or soldiers. We place the emphasis on the
capabilities of these units –
what they can actually do.
For the northern areas these are
positive developments. With our modern systems we are able to carry
out a far greater range of missions than in the past.
The surveillance systems have been
improved. We have also brought into service Coast Guard vessels
with significantly better seaworthiness and improved capabilities
for towing, search and rescue, and environmental protection. New
helicopters, with a substantially greater load-carrying capacity
and extended range, further enhance the overall capability. The
Norwegian Navy’s new frigates will also be equipped for a far
greater range of missions than their predecessors.
Overall, the capability of our
military forces has increased significantly.
Nor is our military presence to be measured simply in terms
of the number of static bases and defence installations.
The important thing is that our forces should be
flexible. In other words that
they are where they are needed, at the right time, with the right
equipment and with personnel who can accomplish their missions in a
professional manner.
Our bases serve first and foremost
as departure points for the Armed Forces’ operations. It is our
capacity to react to incidents and crises that is a true measure of
the quality of our defence capability.
In the continuing development of the Armed Forces we must
therefore give priority to operational defence capability
rather than to the actual number of bases. A certain degree of
concentration of our military activities is essential to the
balanced development of the Armed Forces and the maintenance of an
effective presence in the North.
But even with this degree of
concentration we can still pursue this development in a way that
gives relative priority to the northern areas.
Some have raised the question of
what this sharper focus on the North entails. Our military presence
there does not mean either militarisation or confrontation.
Norway will follow a policy of
cooperation reflecting the fact that, in most areas, we share
common interests with our northern neighbours. Our service
personnel will all do their best to be good ambassadors for
Norway.
Further defence restructuring and modernisation
Until now I have focused on
operations abroad and on the northern areas as two important
elements of Norway’s defence and security policy.
The Armed Forces’ flexibility must
extend to include operations both at home and abroad. In both
contexts we have to be robust with respect to the wide variety of
possible scenarios and we must be able to manage whatever future
challenges we may face, even those that are difficult to
predict.
In the main, therefore, the
Government intends to hold to the present course with regard to the
modernisation of the Armed Forces. We wish to maintain the momentum
of the restructuring as endorsed by a broad majority in the
Storting.
Modern Armed Forces demands much of those who they
employ. They call for great determination, good
communication skills and flexibility. A high degree of competence
and professional skill is also essential.
We need to ensure that the armed
services are better able to recognise and make use of competence
acquired through service both at home and abroad. The new Junior
Officer scheme should make us better equipped to lead our units
during demanding operations. It will enhance both the safety of
personnel and our ability to accomplish our missions.
The Armed Forces should reflect the
nature of Norwegian society as a whole. That means including and
making full use of the diversity and varied skills of Norwegian
citizens from minority backgrounds.
I want to see the Armed Forces setting an example of
integrity and espousing a culture in which everyone is
conscious of their role as responsible members of society. It is my
impression that servicemen and women do possess these qualities.
Nevertheless in 2005 the Armed Forces have attracted a good deal of
adverse attention in the media.
I take this challenge with regard
to our reputation, organisational culture and ethics very
seriously. I have therefore taken an initiative to produce a plan
of action to give added weight to the work on attitudes and
leadership. The restructuring process only increases the importance
of this work.
The settings for this work include
the instruction and training given by our military schools and
colleges, leadership training and, not least, the day-to-day
dialogue that we have with the service spokesmen and managers at
different levels.
Similarly the dialogue with
national servicemen, defence employees and their organisations also
plays an important part here. Their contributions are always
constructive even though they may at times be critical.
The Bondevik II government did much to follow up
the work of creating a balance between defence tasks, structure and
resources that was initiated by the Stoltenberg I
administration.
Thus the defence organisation has
already undergone very substantial modernisation. The Armed Forces
are now better able to accomplish the tasks with which they are
entrusted. The essential challenge remaining is to ensure that a
lasting and sustainable balance is achieved.
The Government now wants to move quickly to bring
order to all aspects of financial control relating to the
Armed Forces. Continuing adverse comment on our defence finances is
harmful to our reputation. But the most important point is that
orderly finances are an essential precondition for choosing the
right way ahead in the continuing process of modernisation of the
Armed Forces.
The defence accounts will have been
prepared towards the end of January. We have grounds for believing
that we are on the right track with regard to the quality of the
accounts and of the financial control arrangements in general.
We will also be studying the
experience gained in relation to privatisation, tendering and
horizontal trading. Surely it cannot be right that military
vehicles are left to stand outside their own garages because the
rent for these is too high.
It seems to me that there two main tracks to be
followed in the work of carrying forward the long-term
development of the Armed Forces.
The first of these tracks involves implementation
of the restructuring already approved for the period until 2008,
with the emphasis on savings in the area of non-operational
activity.
We have had a broad consensus for
this in the Storting – a consensus that I shall strive to
maintain.
The second track involves carrying on the
fundamental work, both political and military in parallel, of
ensuring a unified course of development for the Armed Forces
beyond the present planning period. I shall be putting a separate
Proposition before the Storting in spring 2008.
An important basis for this Proposition will be a new
Defence Study. The Chief of Defence is a key member of the
integrated Ministry of Defence. Among his responsibilities is that
of providing independent professional advice on unified solutions
for the future. To this end he has recently embarked on his Defence
Study 2007.
In addition to the recommendations made by the Chief of
Defence, we will engage in a broad and inclusive political
process in preparation for the next Long-Term Plan. It is important
to ensure legitimacy and broad backing for the course marked out
for Norwegian Defence post 2008.
It is the Government that bears political
responsibility for the development of the Armed Forces. We
will seek a balance between the various views when we put proposals
for the long-term course of development before the Storting. We are
prepared for the major challenges that we shall be facing.
In questions of investment we will
keep an open mind with regard to collaboration with allies. This
approach can reduce costs both in procurement and in subsequent
operation and maintenance.
We will give due weight to
collaboration with those countries with whom we have traditionally
had the closest cooperation in the past. This means primarily with
Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the
United States.
In this respect, a future
investment in combat aircraft is likely to pose the greatest
challenge in this area in the coming years. I would stress that we
have not yet made a decision as to the final choice of aircraft. We
have requested information from four potential suppliers (Joint
Strike Fighter, Eurofighter, Rafale and JAS Gripen).
The Armed Forces’ operational needs
will remain central. The Government will also give due weight to
our overall policy which includes taking into account the interests
of Norwegian industry. Our aim is to find the solution which is
best for the country as well as from the point of view of Norwegian
defence and security.
Conclusion
My first almost 100 days in office as Defence
Minister have been an inspiration to me and it is with pleasure
that I look forward to continuing my work.
In order to promote security we
must come to terms with uncertainty and have the courage to face
uncertain situations. Norwegian military personnel have that
courage and their team spirit is strong. Not only do our personnel
take good care of themselves but they are equally determined to
ensure the safety of their comrades. They look after each
other.
I have seen for myself that our
servicemen and women set their sights higher than on their own
interests alone. They are very much aware that the Armed Forces
represent a positive force for the good of society, both in the
short and the long terms – and both at home and abroad.
I would also like to take advantage of this
opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all of you who
in previous years, through your professional careers and through
your backing and involvement, have contributed towards keeping an
interest in defence matters alive and well in the minds of the
Norwegian people.
Involvement, knowledge and dialogue
in many different forums will be necessary as this process of
development continues. In the future, too, our Armed Forces must
not only be capable of accomplishing their missions, but must also
remain securely rooted in Norwegian society.
It is of the greatest possible
importance that our Armed Forces continue to enjoy the confidence
and trust of the Norwegian people. That is why we attach so much
weight to openness. There are many who have important contributions
to make. As Defence Minister, I will do my very best to build on,
and make full use of, the potential opportunities that lie in a
broad and open dialogue.
For the first time in many years, Norway now has a
majority government. This gives us new opportunities. Not only to
alter the content of our policies but also to change the shape of
politics in Norway. I will do whatever I can to create a good and
cooperative relationship with those in the Armed Forces at every
level, their spokesmen and their leaders, as well as with mayors
and local authorities.
Our political and military
leadership stand united in facing and meeting these challenges.
United, we can create the
flexible defence that this country needs in today’s world, so
enabling every member of the Armed Forces and all who work in the
defence organisation, to continue to make their vital
contributions, every day, every month throughout the year, to the
common cause of defence and security.
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for
your attention.
