Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy Mr. Graham Harlow, Mayor, Director of the Nobel Peace Centre Kjersti Fløgstad, the National Collegiate Honors Council,              

Dear Partners in Peace,

First of all: On behalf of the Norwegian Government, welcome to Oslo!

It is an honor to stand here before such a visionary, wise and inspiring audience – all united by a common belief – that through knowledge, research, and international collaboration, we can build a more peaceful world.

This is the best remedy  for our troubled world.

The empirics are blunt, and they’re worrying.  We are witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War. Across the world, democracy is in decline.

Academic freedom is also under pressure.

The covariance is not coincidental.

Because the level of freedom of press and academic freedom are important barometers of a democracy.

To quote Filipino journalist, democracy advocate, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2021) Maria Ressa:

Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality, no democracy, and it becomes impossible to deal with our world’s existential problems:

*

Regardless of physical borders – regardless of those trying to censor free thought and free speech – all of you are together and principally defending facts as a basis of truth. Of trust and shared realities. Of democracy. Of peace.

That is why I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Partners in Peace network and to all institutions involved – for your tireless work in promoting critical and independent knowledge about Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Peace Prize and laureates, and related themes. And not least: for promoting international knowledge collaboration.

In the face of our troubled world, student and research exchange are among the most important things we can do.

By passing on critical knowledge to the next generation – and by establishing rooms for cross-national discussion and shared knowledge – you are building a foundation for a safe and prosperous future.

*

Without you – without civil society engagement – peace is not possible.  

But it is obvious that governments also need to take a large share of responsibility.

Norway has a long tradition of acting as a peace mediator, fostering strong international relationships and working to prevent conflict.

23 years ago, I wrote my masters thesis in conflict management at John Hopkins University.

So, I feel very much at home in this crowd.

In my thesis, I showed how small states or even organizations can make a difference in bringing conflicting parties to the table, keeping them there, building trust and common ground.

Not alone. But as one of many important contributors. Often as an important start when talks seem impossible

The Norwegian experience is that we can make a difference. Even though we’re small.

It is also in our interest. Peaceful relations, trade, and cooperation are in our interest – but they are also in the interest of humanity. High walls and closed doors serve only the despot.

Peacebuilding is always grounded in knowledge. Therefore, the Norwegian government is investing heavily in building more international research and knowledge partnerships.

Collaboration between Norway and the US in higher education and research is important. Collaboration between scholars is equally important. I am happy to see this collaboration unfolding through the Partners in Peace network.

*

Dear all,

In challenging times, we must do more of what we believe in. What we think can contribute to more peace, less conflict.

We need to invest in knowledge.

In research.

In international collaboration.

And in meeting places like this.

Therefore, I am happy to learn that the Partners in Peace network is growing.

I want to thank you all again for your fantastic work and to the Nobel Peace Centre for hosting this year’s congress, where you have put together a highly engaging program. I wish you all a wonderful and inspiring stay in sunny Oslo.

Thank you.