Historical archive

Statement by Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Traavik to Heads of Mission not resident in Oslo, 18 May 2004

Historical archive

Published under: Bondevik's 2nd Government

Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Statement by Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Traavik to Heads of Mission not resident in Oslo, 18 May 2004

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2004 marks a milestone in the history of Europe. The enlargement of the EU and the concurrent enlargement of NATO are historic steps towards a safer, more peaceful and prosperous continent. The vision of a Europe whole and free is finally becoming reality. And both organizations remain committed to the further expansion of the European zone of stability and prosperity.

The European Commission’s recent recommendation that Croatia be welcomed as a candidate country is a case in point. This is an important event, for Croatia as well as for the region of which it is a part. It sends a strong and clear message to the other countries of the Western Balkans that EU membership will eventually be within reach for them, too.

The countries of the Western Balkans could and should get closer to the Atlantic Alliance as well. In our view, Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina should be included in the Partnership for Peace as soon as possible. But that is subject, of course, to the continuing commitment to reform of those two countries.

We applaud the commitment of the EU to bring the countries on its new external border closer to it. New dividing lines must not be allowed to replace those that have been removed through enlargement. We share the objectives of the EU’s new neighbourhood policy and stand ready to contribute actively to it, just as we have supported enlargement and actively contributed to it.

We will be making substantial contributions to the bridging of economic and social gaps in the enlarged EU. To that end, two new EEA financial instruments came on line on May 1. Norway’s share of the funding of the two instruments will be around 225 million Euro annually for the next five years.

Together with the new Member States and the European Commission, we will be exploring whether the new EEA financial mechanisms could be drawn upon to finance cross-border projects in support of and complementary to the EU’s European Neighbourhood Programmes.

Our experience in regional cross-border co-operation in the North, in the context of our bilateral relations with Russia and through the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, may be of interest as the EU ponders its future relations with its new neighbours and the continuing development of the European Neighbourhood Policy. We welcome the expansion of EU-Russia cooperation and the extension of the PCA agreement.

European security and stability also depend on close co-operation with our partners in Central Asia and Caucasus. Ensuring the continuation of democratic reform is crucial. These regions are front lines in the fight against international terrorism and organised crime, particularly trafficking in drugs and human beings. The international community needs to step up its efforts to promote security sector reform in the broadest sense, including police training and regional police co-operation.

We welcome the proposed inclusion of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in the European Neighbourhood Policy. We have stepped up our support to Georgia, including in the area of security sector reform. President Saakashvili and his government need and deserve our support. The recent resolution of the crisis over Ajaria is encouraging. Hopefully it will have positive implications for Georgia’s other internal conflicts as well.

Norway’s own relations with the European Union remain fundamentally unchanged. Although of late there has been renewed debate about whether Norway should once more seek EU membership, the EEA agreement remains the foundation of our relations with the Union.

Through the EEA we are part of the EU’s internal market. Through the Schengen cooperation and the Dublin Convention, we are part of the external border regime of the EU. We are close partners of the EU in the areas of the CFSP and the ESDP as well as justice and home affairs. And as already noted, we will contribute substantially to the elimination of social and economic gaps in the enlarged EU.

Against this backdrop of an exceptionally close and wide-ranging partnership, many Norwegians find it hard to understand that the European Commission has initiated a safeguard investigation on imports of farmed Atlantic salmon from Norway. In our view safeguard measures are neither called for nor justified under the terms of the WTO Safeguards Agreement.

On 12 May Norway took over the helm of the Council of Europe for the next six months. We have always given priority to the Council and actively supported its work. The Council of Europe plays an important role in promoting democracy, human rights and good governance and in preventing conflict in Europe. We are committed to following up the constructive efforts of the preceding Dutch chairmanship, with whom we have had an excellent co-operation.

Improving the efficiency of the European Court of Human Rights will be a high priority of the Norwegian chairmanship. The Court is a crucially important institution. In a sense it has become a victim of its own success as the supreme arbiter of human rights in Europe. In recent years the backlog of cases has grown to an insustainable level. The efficiency of the Court simply has to be augmented, in order to safeguard its credibility and that of the Council of Europe.

To that end, a protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights was signed in Strasbourg on May 13. It is crucial that the protocol enter into force as soon as possible. Norway will do its utmost to advance this process and we call upon the other member states to do the same. We will in the meantime push forward the efforts to further strenghten the court as well as improve and speed up the execution of its judgements.

In addition we will be focusing on the relationship between the Council and other organisations, in particular the OSCE and the EU. These organisations must complement, rather than compete with each other. Another priority area of the Norwegian chairmanship will be conflict prevention, especially through intercultural dialogue.

For half a century NATO has been the cornerstone of Norwegian security policy. We believe NATO is as relevant today as it has ever been.

In our view the key to NATO’s success lies in its ability to adapt to new circumstances. The continuous efforts of the Allies to extend co-operation – first to the nations of the Euro-Atlantic area and then beyond – testify to the organisation’s flexibility and adaptability. So does the will to take on new tasks as the need arises – first in the Balkans, and then in Afghanistan.

At the June Istanbul summit, NATO heads of state and government will reconfirm their commitment to continuing the revitalisation of the Alliance. The summit agenda will be based on two main tracks – outreach to partners, and continuation of the transformation process.

Strengthening the partnership with the Caucasus and Central Asia will be central, as will increased co-operation with our Mediterranean dialogue partners and the region as a whole.

Close co-operation and a sensible division of labour between NATO and the EU will help to strengthen the transatlantic ties, which we consider the mainstay of the Euro-Atlantic security structure.

The fight against international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction – the defining threats to international peace and security – remain at the top of our agenda.

The situation in Iraq obviously is cause for grave concern. We, too, have been appalled by disturbing images documenting mistreatment of Iraqi detainees. We expect and trust that those responsible will be held accountable. Prisoners must be treated humanely and spared humiliation, in accordance with basic humanitarian principles as well as international law.

Amid all the discouraging news coming out of Iraq, we note on the positive side the progress achieved by Mr. Brahimi in preparing for the specifics of post-occupation Iraq. It is important that the UN Security Council passes a resolution that:

  • consolidates the international legitimacy of the new interim Iraqi government,
  • provides an unambiguous mandate for the international military presence that will still be needed, and
  • gives the UN a clearly defined and realistic role in the further political process in Iraq.

As announced last December, we will withdraw the Norwegian military contingent from southern Iraq at the end of June. From the outset, this had been planned as a time-limited contribution. Now we need to be able to draw upon our limited military resources in the context of commitments in Afghanistan and elsewhere. However, we aim to keep a small number of military personnel in Iraq to liaise with coalition forces.

Furthermore, we will continue to contribute substantially to the reconstruction of Iraq. And we will of course continue to provide humanitarian aid to Iraq. We have been disturbed by recent violence and atrocities against international aid and reconstruction workers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Post-conflict transitional processes are always difficult, and Afghanistan is no exception. There is no question that progress has been made. The national elections in September will hopefully be yet another milestone. But daunting challenges remain on the road to sustainable peace and stability.

The security situation underscores the need for a multi-ethnic national army, a police force under civilian control and a functioning judicial system. The international community must provide substantial long-term support to security sector reforms. Norway will continue to assist in the training of the Afghan police and border police.

The long-term commitment of the international community is of vital importance for stability in Afghanistan and the region as a whole. And a stable Afghanistan is of course crucial to the global fight against terrorism.

Through ISAF, NATO has a stake in the country’s future. Support for NATO's activities in Afghanistan will remain a high priority for Norway. In 2004, our military contribution to ISAF will be about 320 personnel.

NATO cannot afford to fail in Afghanistan. The expansion of the ISAF mandate under NATO leadership is paramount in securing and projecting stability and security, in Kabul and other parts of the country.

To that end, additional Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are needed. Right now we are working with the UK and Finland to establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Maymaneh in northern Afghanistan.

The expanding drug economy in Afghanistan is closely linked to the security situation. There are clear indications that both the Taliban and regional leaders and warlords are involved. Co-operation with neighbouring countries is necessary if we are to succeed in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.

The international community must stay the course in Afghanistan. It is essential that we do not lose sight of the reasons for our presence in the first place. We are there to ensure that Afghanistan will never again become a safe haven for terrorists. And we are there to ensure a better future for the long-suffering women, men, and children of Afghanistan.

Clearly, further dialogue and co-operation between the West and the Islamic, or Arab, world is needed. And equally clearly major reforms are required in many of the countries concerned. Hence we support the idea of a broad partnership between the West and the countries of the region with a view to facilitating political and economic reform and social development.

But to be viable, any such dialogue must be a genuine two-way process. And it must be wanted by the countries concerned. Hence, the West must not attempt to impose its ideas on the Arab world. Rather, we must offer assistance and partnership when requested. Unless there is ownership in the countries concerned, no initiative of this kind– however well-intentioned – will get off the ground.

It is hard to see how the Greater Middle East initiative can make headway in the absence of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But the reverse also holds true: Lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot justify delaying much-needed and long-overdue political and economic reforms.

Recently, much of the news coming out of the Middle East has been bad. At the present juncture, the international community must reinforce its efforts to get the peace efforts back on track. Clearly, the members of the Quartet – the UN, the EU, Russia and particularly the US – have a special responsibility in this regard.

It remains to be seen whether and how Prime Minister Sharon’s plan to withdraw from Gaza will be implemented. Any disengagement must be consistent with the Road Map and the vision of a two-state solution.

Unilateral steps cannot be allowed to prejudge the outcome of future final status negotiations. Nor do unilateral measures alter Israel’s responsibilities deriving from UNSCR 242, 338 and other relevant Security Council resolutions.

Norway remains committed to a negotiated two-state solution agreed between the parties, which would result in a viable, contiguous, sovereign Palestinian state.

In our capacity as chairman of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for assistance to the Palestinian Authority, we are exploring how the Committee could contribute to the stabilisation of Gaza in the event of an Israeli withdrawal. We are also working to mobilise budget support to the Palestinian Authority. Norway is contributing USD 12 million to the newly established World Bank trust fund for budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority.

We are extremely concerned about the ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. We do not question Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against terrorism. And we have consistently condemned Palestinian terrorism. But Israel must address its security needs within international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The actions taken by the Israeli defence forces in and around Rafah is disproportional to the threat and cannot be justified as a part of a legitimate defence against terrorism.

Norway remains firmly committed to the United Nations. International law, the UN Charter and the resolutions of the UN Security Council should be the foundation of our efforts to achieve peace, security and stability.

We have consistently worked to strengthen the role and authority of the UN Security Council in its efforts to counter international terrorism and to halt the spread of the most destructive weapons.

We welcome the adoption by the Security Council just a few weeks ago of the resolution requiring all states to criminalise the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

We must take urgent measures to close any loopholes that allow nations to carry out clandestine nuclear weapons programmes. Norway will continue to work for a more prominent role for the UN in issues relating to compliance and verification.

We must strengthen the global non-proliferation treaties and regimes. These treaties must be made binding on all parties. Universal adherence must be assured. The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty has been the cornerstone of our collective security for more than 30 years. We must not allow it to be weakened.

From this perspective, next year’s NPT review conference will be exceptionally important. With like-minded nations, Norway will work hard to ensure substantial results. The NPT was a historic compromise between nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament concerns. In order to shore up the Treaty, progress is needed in both areas.

And the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty must enter into force as soon as possible. It is vital that the moratoria on testing by the nuclear weapons states are maintained.

At the same time, it is evident that the global treaties are not sufficient. Therefore Norway is taking an active part in the Proliferation Security Initiative, aimed at interdiction of shipments of prohibited technologies and components for WMD programmes. As a major flag state, we are committed to doing everything in our power to prevent Norwegian-registered ships from being misused for proliferation purposes.

The Proliferation Security Initiative fills a gap in our toolbox of non-proliferation measures. At the same time, irreversible reductions in existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons are needed. Reductions would be the best guarantee that such weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.

We are also concerned about the way weapons and materials of mass destructions are being stored in some countries. The Threat Reduction Program initiated by US Senators Nunn and Lugar is particularly important in this regard. The programme is crucial to our efforts to dismantle weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union. It has clearly been instrumental in raising international awareness of the dangers posed by the existence of vast stocks of such weapons.

The Nunn-Lugar programme is also a vital contribution to the G8 Global Partnership to prevent the spread of WMD. Norway was the first country outside the G8 to play an active part in the Global Partnership. The Kola Peninsula, which is just on the other side of our border with Russia in the north, has the world’s largest concentration of nuclear installations and waste storage sites. Many of them represent a proliferation risk.

Co-operation with Russia has a central place in our foreign policy, both on a bilateral basis, and in multilateral fora. Norway and Russia have a long traditions of finding peaceful solutions to cross-border and common challenges. Many of these challenges, such as nuclear safety, resource management, energy policy, environmental issues and fisheries, are in the North.

The situation in the High North has changed fundamentally since the end of the Cold War. It is no longer an arena for geo-strategic rivalry. Significant new opportunities for international cooperation have materialised. New frameworks for cooperation, including the Barents Cooperation and the Arctic Council, have been established.

Yet new challenges have also come to the fore The northern seas and continental shelves have an enormous potential for harvesting of marine living as well as fossile energy deposits. But the natural environment in these frigid climes is extremely fragile. Any major shipping accident or oil spill in these rough waters could have dramatic consequences. The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, a major scientific survey conducted under the auspices of the Arctic Council, indicates that the Arctic climate is warming rapidly and that the consequences will be increasingly felt in the region and beyond.

Against this backdrop, the government is in the process of finalising a White Paper on challenges and opportunities in the North. The White Paper will be transmitted to Parliament at the end of the month. It will address issues pertaining to the formulation and implementation of Norwegian policy for the High North. Among other things it will contain specific proposals with a view to raising awareness of these issues in Norway and in our relations with international partners.