Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre

Madrid Fifteen Years Later (Madrid +15). Dinner meeting

10 January 2007

The Minister’s talking points (check against delivery)

• Thanks, Miguel. Welcome all to dinner and conference. Common Spanish/Norwegian initiative. Appreciate Scandinavian colleagues’ support.
• Welcome representatives of key parties in the region and outside. Broad participation is vital. Can create confidence, contacts and trust.
• Thank organisers. Tremendous job so far. Important to involve civil society. FAFOs role. Need your engagement as basis for process between governments.
• Link between Madrid and Oslo. Without Madrid – no Oslo accords. Pleased to underline the close Spanish-Norwegian-Scandinavian cooperation on Middle East issues.
• Commemorate Madrid +15. But important to look forward. Hope conference is a step in right direction.
• Backdrop: very difficult situation. Need engagement, constructive involvement of all parties and players. Need strong commitment from international community.
• Norwegian co-sponsor: part of long-term Middle East engagement. Will continue. Peace in the region important also for Europe.