Norway Daily No. 209/99

The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Oslo Press Division

Norway Daily No. 209/99

DATE: 29 October 1999

NEGOTIATIONS BOGGING DOWN AT THE FINISH LINE

(Aftenposten)

It became evident at yesterday's budget negotiations that both sides were starting to "dig in their heels". The coalition parties felt Labour's tax hikes were too ambitious, while Labour found the Government excessively unwilling to delete items from its budget. Only limited progress was made, and although concessions were made on both sides, there was still a considerable gap late last night.

CONCLUSION YET TO BE REACHED

(NTB)

Labour and the coalition parties were not able to reach an accord on next year's fiscal budget last night . The negotiations will continue, though important decisions will only be made in the light of day. The latter is one point on which Labour and the Government coalition both agree. The parliamentary leaders stepped into the negotiations last night, but that did not resolve the problems.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE MARATHON

(Dagbladet)

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is sending his three top negotiators to Oslo in advance to clear up certain grievances with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. US President Bill Clinton intends to take an active part in mediation efforts. The stage is set for a two-day peace marathon in Oslo. "We hope Oslo will be a refuelling station for peace in the Middle East this time," says State Secretary Odd Jostein Sæter of the Office of the Prime Minister.

THE SAME OLD STORY

(Dagens Næringsliv)

Norsk Hydro President and CEO Egil Myklebust's presentation yesterday of the new corporate leadership and the new corporate strategy was anything but pleasant. Five middle-aged men who have spent most of their working lives in Norsk Hydro have taken it upon themselves to improve corporate profits. The employees spoke of the administration's reluctance to make decisions while share prices were falling.

2,300 TO LOSE THEIR JOBS AT NORSK HYDRO

(Dagsavisen)

Norsk Hydro's goal is to raise its profits by NOK 4 billion in 2000 and 2001. Hydro will concentrate its efforts in three areas: oil and energy, light metals and agriculture. 2,300 employees must go by next July.

KREDITKASSEN SALE NOT YET A WRITE-OFF

(Dagbladet)

The Labour Party could conceivably accept the sale of Kreditkassen to MeritaNordbanken, bur for this to happen, Norwegian private and government investors must be allowed to acquire substantial holdings in the Nordic banking giant. MeritaNordbanken yesterday extended the deadline for the acceptance of its offer by Kreditkassen's shareholders.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS UNIMPRESSED BY GOVERNMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD

(Vårt Land)

Minister of the Environment Guro Fjellanger and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik will be presenting their State of the Environment report today, but environmentalists say the Government's credibility on environmental issues is wearing perilously thin. All the Norwegian environmental organizations agree that they have yet to see any real initiative from a Government which has promised the moon and the stars.

A LIFE-OR-DEATH PATRIMONY CASE

(Dagsavisen)

A difficult patrimony case from the forests of Østfold County has landed on the table of game biologists and the environmental authorities. A DNA analysis may have fatal consequences for the children, and perhaps for the father and mother as well. The point at issue is whether a female wolf could have coupled with a dog, producing a litter of mixed-breed pups this summer. If this is the case, their death warrant is assured. If, on the other hand, the father proves to be of pure Nordic wolf stock, the pups will have much greater chances for survival under the protection of the Ministry of the Environment.

WORTH NOTING

• Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik will meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for the first time on Monday. The two will discuss nuclear and environmental safety in the region close to Russia's border with Norway, as well as the conflict in Chechnya. (Dagsavisen)
• Only a year ago, Finance Minister Gudmund Restad cautioned against introducing an additional surtax category for high income brackets, and former Labour Finance Minister Sigbjørn Johnsen did the same three years ago. But now Labour and the Bondevik Government intend to go ahead and do it anyway. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• The prestigious Ibsen Festival has been dropped from this year's fiscal budget entirely. Sponsors, too, have not materialized. "Funding is necessary if this festival is to continue," says Ellen Horn, director of the National Theatre. (Aftenposten)

TODAY'S COMMENT

When US President Bill Clinton arrives in Oslo on Monday, he will not be met by official representatives alone. A number of organizations are planning demonstrations against US injustices committed against its own people and the people of other countries. And the residents of Oslo are also discovering that security measures are being planned, the likes of which have never been seen before. In some parts of town, people have been ordered not to stand at windows or even appear on the streets during certain hours. The security arrangements, which probably constitute the greatest challenge ever faced by Norwegian police, seem to be orchestrated by the Americans. Even though Norway is acknowledged as one of the best in the NATO class, it is of the utmost importance that we are allowed to demonstrate the status of free speech here in Norway during this prominent visit. The police may be tempted to banish demonstrators to parts of town where they will not present a "security risk", even from the point of view of the US security people. But the duty of the police is not only to guarantee the safety of the visitors, but also to ensure that our own citizens are allowed to exercise their legitimate rights. (Dagbladet)