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| International convention banning cluster munitions signed in Oslo. |
| [Norwaynews] [03.12.2008, 06:36pm, Wed. GMT] |
| 125 states are taking part in the signing ceremony in Oslo City Hall today. Four of them, including Norway, have already ratified the Convention. “This is a historic day for international humanitarian law and for cluster munitions victims. Cluster munitions have killed and maimed innocent civilians for more than 50 years. Today most of the world’s countries are choosing to ban any further use of these merciless weapons,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “It looks as though around 100 states will sign the Convention in the course of the day, and more countries are expected to sign it at UN Headquarters in New York in the coming weeks,” said the Foreign Minister. |
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More news
| Norwegian authorities have turned down a UN request on Congo force. |
| [Norwaynews] [02.12.2008, 07:24pm, Tue. GMT] |
| It was wrong of Norway to turn down the UN request for a Norwegian military contribution to the UN force in the DR Congo, says head of the the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Jan Egeland(photo). The Norwegian authorities have turned down a UN request, saying they do not have a standing force ready to be deployed in the war-torn African state. Defence Minister Anne-Grete Stroem-Erichsen has said it may be possible to contribute at a later date. Former UN envoy Egeland believes the answer might have been different had the request been for a mission in the Balkans, Europe or the Middle East. |
| | | | Terrorist attacks in India - One Norwegian citizen has been wounded. |
| [Norwaynews] [28.11.2008, 02:40pm, Fri. GMT] |
 The Norwegian government has condemned the terrorist attacks on civilian targets in the Indian city of Mombay over the past few days. One Norwegian citizen has been wounded in the shooting. "The Norwegian Government strongly condemns the brutal terrorist attacks against several targets in Mumbai in India, attacks that have claimed the life of more than a hundred persons", Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says. In his letter to Prime Minister Singh, Stoltenberg says it was with shock and great sadness that he learned of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. |
| | | | New transport plane for the Norwegian Air Force. |
| [Norwaynews] [26.11.2008, 05:40pm, Wed. GMT] |
 The Norwegian Air Force on Tuesday received the first of four new Hercules C-130J transport aircraft. The plane was named "Frigg" by Defence Minister Anne Grete Stroem-Erichsen. On its maiden flight, "Frigg" was escorted by three F-16 jet fighters as it flew low over Oslo and the Oslo Fjord. By 2010, Norway will have received all the four new C-130J Hercules aircraft that have been ordered. |
| | | | A Buddhist temple of their own for Lankans in Norway. |
| [Norwaynews] [24.11.2008, 01:53pm, Mon. GMT] |
 Sri Lankan Buddhists based in Norway will soon have a temple of their own, thanks to the efforts of the Tisarana Sri Lanka Buddhist Association in that country. The temple will be more than a place of worship and meditation – it will also be a resource centre and a cultural link to Sri Lanka, said Nirmala Eidsgaard, chairperson of the Tisarana Sri Lanka Buddhist Association in Norway. “For young people, especially those born and raised in Norway, the temple will help to reinforce their cultural identity,” she said. Norway has temples for the Vietnamese, Thai and Tibetan Buddhist communities, but none so far for the Sri Lankan Buddhist community. |
| | | | Norway grants residence permit to victims of human trafficking. |
| [Norwaynews] [19.11.2008, 10:02pm, Wed. GMT] |
Norway is opening its door to victims and witnesses of human trafficking as the Ministry of Labor and Social Inclusion instructed the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) to provide them residence permits. “The new instructions allow permanent work or residence permits for Norway to be issued to the persons in question. This is to ensure that victims of human trafficking can testify without fear of retaliation in their country of origin, and to make sure that we catch more ringleaders,” Labor and Social Inclusion State Secretary Libe Rieber-Mohn said. “This is (also) a good measure that will make it easier to persuade the women to testify against the ringleaders, while at the same time ensuring guaranteeing the safety of the women involved,” Secretary Mohn explained.
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| | | | Thieves broke into the Norwegian Criminal Police's Headquarters in Oslo. |
| [Norwaynews] [17.11.2008, 04:04pm, Mon. GMT] |
| Thieves broke into the Norwegian criminal police's headquarters in Oslo, run off with several computers, police said on Monday. "I can confirm that we were the victim of a robbery overnight Saturday to Sunday," Pia Solhaug, a spokeswoman for Norway's criminal police Kripos, told to Media. "Several computers were taken," she added. According to tabloid Verdens Gang (VG), the intruders smashed a window to gain entry into the building. The robbery was discovered three hours later. Oslo police have launched an investigation. |
| | | | Discussion Groups for non-natives in Norway. |
| [Norwaynews] [17.11.2008, 02:57pm, Mon. GMT] |
| There are two online communities set up for Irish people living in Norway and for other foreign nationals (including the Irish) who are new to Oslo. The first group, 'Norsk Gaeltacht' is a group for all Irish people living in Norway. For some, finding other Irish people is difficult in Norway, and when you're away from home, it's nice to meet people from your own neck of the woods. The forum gives ex-patriates an opportunity to meet, greet and get to know each other, and even meet up for a few now and then. |
| | | | Norway talked High North with European Union. |
| [Norwaynews] [13.11.2008, 11:05am, Thu. GMT] |
| The High North was on top of the agenda when a delegation of six Norwegian cabinet ministers, headed by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, met with all the leading institutions of the EU. “Europe is about to discover the richness of the Arctic regions. This area is constantly moving towards greater cooperation”, Stoltenberg said. “The European Union is extremely important for Norway. This is reflected by the Norwegian government’s active policy towards both individual European countries as well as the European Union in itself”, Stoltenberg stated to the press after the meetings, EU-Norway.org reports. |
| | | | Malawi, Norway agree to control alcohol, drug abuses. |
| [Norwaynews] [12.11.2008, 11:07pm, Wed. GMT] |
| Malawi and Norway, through its international developmental nongovernmental organisation called FORUT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) where FORUT will provide technical aid to implementing programmes that would prevent and control alcohol and drug abuse in the country for five years. Speaking in the capital Lilongwe, Forut Secretary General Morton Lonstard said addressing alcohol and drug abuses as a development issue was a strong commitment of his organisation in developing countries like Malawi. "We are very much concerned about alcohol and drugs in the development work of the countries, hence the assistance to prevent the malpractice," he said. |
| | | | Norway tightens rule in granting Economical asylum. |
| [Norwaynews] [12.11.2008, 10:59pm, Wed. GMT] |
Norway has recently adopted measures to limit the number of Economical asylum seekers in the country particularly those coming from Iraq, the Ministry of Labor and Social Inclusion announced here recently. The Labor Ministry directed the Immigration Office that starting November 1, Iraqis would not be granted asylum on the grounds of protection but will be considered on individual grounds/merits. “The practice concerning asylum seekers from certain areas in Iraq, have been more liberal in Norway than in Sweden and Denmark. The Norwegian practice will now change and will be more in line with the practice in Sweden and Denmark,” Minister of Labor and Social Inclusion Dag Terje Andersen said in a press statement. |
| | | | Norway and Sri Lanka in fusion of music and dance. |
| [Norwaynews] [08.11.2008, 08:44pm, Sat. GMT] |
‘Traditions Meet’ is an amazing meeting of folk music, classical and contemporary traditions from Sri Lanka and Norway with artists from the two countries bringing together string and wind music, Sri Lankan folk dance and drums. The concert to be held at Ananda College, Colombo on November 14, and at the Hindu Cultural Centre in Kandy on the 13th is presented by the Norwegian Embassy, in collaboration with The Concert Institute, Norway, and the Aru Sri Art Theatre, Sri Lanka. |
| | | | Norway increases emergency relief to DR Congo by NOK 15 Million. |
| [Norwaynews] [04.11.2008, 06:56pm, Tue. GMT] |
| “Terrible scenes are unfolding in Eastern Congo. Many thousands of people have fled in panic and have no food, medicines or protection. There are reports of rape and other serious violence against women. To alleviate the situation in the region, we are now increasing our humanitarian support by NOK 15 million,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the humanitarian situation to be very serious, even though Nkunda’s forces seem to have halted their offensive against Goma in North Kivu province for the moment. |
| | | | International Buddhist Academy project launched with Norwegian assistance. |
| [Norwaynews] [02.11.2008, 10:31am, Sun. GMT] |
| The Srilankan Anunayake of the Asgiriya Chapter the Venerable Panditha Galagama Atthadassi Thera said that Norway had a poor reputation in Sri Lanka but perhaps they would have realised now that Sri Lanka is committed for genuine peace through the teachings of the Buddha. Speaking at the exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the International Buddhist Academy at Pallekelle which is to be funded by the Government of Norway the Thera said that if this realization had come it is most welcome. |
| | | | Norway, China to strengthen cooperation on human rights. |
| [Norwaynews] [31.10.2008, 01:39pm, Fri. GMT] |
| Norway and China vowed to enhance exchanges and cooperation on human rights after the two nations concluded the 11th annual Roundtable on Human Rights and the Rule of Law here on Friday. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi briefed the Norwegian representatives about human rights in China during the past 30 years, saying that the Chinese government would like to cooperate with other countries on human rights issues on an equal and mutual-respect basis. Liu said the human rights round table has served as a platform for different civilizations to conduct dialogue, and has promoted mutual understanding and expanded the consensus between China and Norway since it was founded in 1997. |
| | | | Georgia's president in Oslo. |
| [Norwaynews] [29.10.2008, 02:20pm, Wed. GMT] |
| Georgia's president Mikhail Saakasjvili, paid a visit to Norway's top officials on Wednesday, and firmly blamed Russia for an armed military conflict in August. The tensions between Georgia , Russia and the conflict remains very much at the top of their agenda. Georgia's president Saakasjvili brought his message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who wasn't willing to place blame himself. |
| | | | Norway officially bans all cluster weapons. |
| [Norwaynews] [27.10.2008, 01:39pm, Mon. GMT] |
| Joining a group of 108 other nations, Norway has sent a proposal to its national parliament to destroy all of its existing cluster munitions and ban their future use. It is the end result of an international convention that Norway signed in Dublin earlier in the year, and a move welcomed by peace groups aiming to eliminate one of the cruellest and most undiscriminating weapons in modern warfare. |
| | | | Norway fund to invest $2 bn in Indian stocks. |
| [Norwaynews] [21.10.2008, 07:55pm, Tue. GMT] |
| Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s second largest, is set to invest $2 billion in Indian stocks. The Bombay Stock Exchange’s benchmark Sensex has been in a free fall this year, dipping below 10,000 last week, but the Norwegian government said the investments by the Government Pension Fund would take place between this month and January 2009. The Norwegian Pension Fund, which has assets of $350 billion, is the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund after only the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, credited with assets of over $875 billion. |
| | | | Two new oil discoveries offshore Angola. |
| [Norwaynews] [21.10.2008, 02:41pm, Tue. GMT] |
StatoilHydro has interests in two new oil finds offshore Angola – in Block 31 and Block 15/06 respectively, found in ultra-deep waters in the Dione discovery. StatoilHydro has a 13.33% interest in the discovery which is located in the southern portion of Block 31, some nine kilometres south-west of the Juno 1 discovery. Dione is situated 390 kilometres northwest of Angola’s capital Luanda. The well was drilled in 1696 metres of water to a total depth of 3272 metres below sea level. |
| | | | Aftenposten to shut down English news service. |
| [Norwaynews] [15.10.2008, 08:58am, Wed. GMT] |
| Media house Aftenposten in Oslo, faced with a need to dramatically cut costs, has decided to shut down its nine-year-old English-language news service, "News in English." Aftenposten announced last month that it needs to cut NOK 100 million (nearly USD 20 million) in costs over the next two years. Early retirement incentives and severance pay packages have been offered to employees in an effort to reduce staff through attrition. |
| | | | Terrorist suspect allowed to go to Mecca. |
| [Norwaynews] [09.10.2008, 04:16pm, Thu. GMT] |
| A Norwegian citizen, with a background from Somalia, who has been charged with financing terrorism, will be allowed to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca in December. The 38 year-old is one of three people who were indicted in March for financing terrorism after they had sent money to Somalia. His passport was impounded, but it will now be returned to him. "That the Police Security Service (PST) is returning his passport, is another victory for us in this case," says the man’s lawyer Frode Sulland to daily newspaper Dagbladet. |
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| Congo Rebel commander Wants Norway to mediate in the conflict. |
| [Norwaynews] [29.11.2008, 09:41am, Sat. GMT] |
 Congo Rebel commander says he would like to see Norway take on the role as mediator in the Congo. He says he would also welcome Norwegian UN troops in the war-torn country. The general said this in a radio interview with the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Norway has no economic or political interests in Congo, and would therefore be a good mediator, and contribute in negotiating a peace treaty for the country, the general said. This week the UN also made a formal request to Norway to send troops to the UN force in Congo. |
| | | | Norwegian direct link with INTERPOL’s Search Facilities. |
| [Norwaynews] [26.11.2008, 05:42pm, Wed. GMT] |
 The Norwegian police has now acquired an automated direct link to INTERPOL's global data bases. This has has reinforced Norway's international policing capability, providing its police with new options. With one click, Norway’s police queries can now simultaneously search Norway’s own national wanted persons database (ELYS II) and INTERPOL’s global databases on wanted persons, vehicles and stolen and lost travel documents (SLTD). “Time is crucial in crime prevention and detection. This new tool will make the Norwegian police service, and its international partners, able to produce better results more rapidly. The automatic link to INTERPOL’s databases emphasizes the high priority the Norwegian government places on international police co-operation in general, and on the INTERPOL system in particular,” says Knut Storberget, the Norwegian Minister of Justice and the Police. |
| | | | Terrorists Tried to recruit suicide bombers in Norway. |
| [Norwaynews] [25.11.2008, 08:02pm, Tue. GMT] |
 Norwegian Imams have reportedly tried to recruit several asylum seekers at Norwegian refugee transit centers to enlist as suicide bombers for operations in Afghanistan, according to Aftenposten. The newspaper Dagbladet reports that an Imam tried to recruit an Afghan citizen who applied for asylum in Norway, and says the PST was informed about the attempt last summer. No one is reported to have been arrested in this case. |
| | | | US jet fighters to Norway. |
| [Norwaynews] [22.11.2008, 01:21pm, Sat. GMT] |
| The Norwegian government has decided to buy 48 F-35 JSF jet fighters made by US Lockheed Martin to replace Norway's aging fleet of F-16s. (Material added) This was announced by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg at a hastily called press conference on Thursday afternoon. He said the Government's decision was based on a recommendation by the Minister of Defence, which was again based on reports by several independent expert groups. He said the JSF was the only aircraft which fulfils all the operational requirements specified by the Norwegian Government, and it is furthermore offered at a lower price than the Jas Gripen NG. |
| | | | Philippines To Raise Rebel Attacks In Norway Talks. |
| [Norwaynews] [19.11.2008, 07:13pm, Wed. GMT] |
| The Philippine government will call for a halt to recent attacks by communist rebels that have killed more than 100 civilians and soldiers during a proposed resumption of Norwegian-brokered peace talks, an official said. Government negotiators also will reiterate a demand that the 5,000-strong New People's Army agree to a cease-fire and stop attacks on foreign mining companies, presidential peace talks adviser Hermogenes Esperon said. "It's really hard to talk when you could not even agree to have a cease-fire," Esperon said. |
| | | | Turkey expells Norwegian lawyer. |
| [Norwaynews] [17.11.2008, 03:03pm, Mon. GMT] |
| Turkey has expelled the Norwegian lawyer and human rights activist Jon Rud for life. The reason is thought to be his engagement for Kurdish activists. Rud was apprehended at the Istanbul Airport earlier ths month and was immediately put back on a returning flight to Norway, Aftenposten reports. Turkish authorities suspect the Norwegian lawyer for among other things to have assisted the lawyers defending the Kurdish guerilla leader Abdullah Ocalan. |
| | | | Norway writes off US million Liberian debts. |
| [Norwaynews] [17.11.2008, 02:55pm, Mon. GMT] |
| The Norwegian Government has agreed to cancel USD 35 million, or 90 per cent of Liberia’s debt to Norway, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced here Friday. “I am glad we have agreed to cancel most of Liberia’s debt to Norway. It is important to support the positive developments that have taken place since the election of President Johnson-Sirleaf four years ago,” Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim said. The debt relief package for Liberia is part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, an international initiative to reduce the debts of the poorest and most indebted countries. |
| | | | Norway to ease visa requirements for Russians. |
| [Norwaynews] [13.11.2008, 08:42am, Thu. GMT] |
| A treaty between Norway and russia on visa facilitation will come into force on December 1, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. On June 8, 2007, Norway and Russia signed intergovernmental visa facilitation and readmission agreements. The visa agreement facilitates the procedure for the issue of single entry visas for terms of up to three months, as well as multiple entry visas for certain categories of travelers, such as members of official delegations, businessmen, journalists, and students. Russia and most EU nations signed a visa facilitation agreement, seen as a crucial step toward a visa free regime, and an agreement on the readmission of illegal migrants in May 2005 at a bilateral summit in Sochi, Russia. The accords came in to force in June last year. |
| | | | Norway ranks 2nd on index of contributing nations. |
| [Norwaynews] [12.11.2008, 11:03pm, Wed. GMT] |
| Norway has moved from third to second place, together with Sweden, on an international ranking of how rich nations' policy benefit poorer nations. The annual Commitment to Development Index (CDI), worked out by the US Center for Global Development i Washington D.C., ranks the 22 richest countries on their commitment to policies that benefit poor nations. The CDI assigns points in seven policy areas: aid (both quantity as a share of income and quality), trade, investment, migration, environment, security, and technology. Within each component, a country receives points for policies and actions that support poor nations in their efforts to build prosperity, good government, and security. The seven components are averaged for a final score. |
| | | | At least seven Poles illegal workers dead in fire in Norway. |
| [Norwaynews] [10.11.2008, 11:13am, Mon. GMT] |
| Norwegian police now say seven Poles illegal workers died and two illegal workers were hospitalised after a fire in a house in Norway’s Drammen district. The state of the two Polish men who were transported to a hospital is serious, both suffering asphyxiated and burns, informed the Polish embassy in Oslo. One person was additionally hurt as he was forced to jump from the third storey. Thirteen Poles illegal workers managed to escape form the burning house. The embassy assured that they are under good care. |
| | | | Norway and Iceland sign border treaty. |
| [Norwaynews] [05.11.2008, 10:03pm, Wed. GMT] |
| This week Norway and Iceland signed a treaty which outlines the framework of oil and gas exploration on the continental shelf between Jan Mayen and Iceland. Norwegian minister of Foreign Affaires, Jonas Gahr Støre, says to Fiskeribladet Fiskaren that Norway has worked closely with Iceland in finding oil and gas resources on the continental shelf. The treaty signed this week outlines an agreement in the border areas between Iceland and the Norwegian iceland of Jan Mayen. Iceland is planning to open areas in the north-eastern part of its continental shelf called the "Northern Dreki Area", for oil and gas exploration. |
| | | | WHO, Norway sends medicines, water purification equipment to DRC. |
| [Norwaynews] [04.11.2008, 06:53pm, Tue. GMT] |
Almost one million people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are threatened by water-borne diseases and desperately need access to safe water, two major health risks that the World Health Organization and the Norwegian government have responded to today. The Government of Norway today confirmed it will provide from the Norwegian Emergency Preparedness System (www.noreps.no) almost 30 tonnes worth of medicines to treat up to 150 000 people for diarrhoeal diseases, trauma and other critical conditions for a month.
Norway is also sending eight sets of water purification equipment to provide clean drinking water for at least 60 000 people. The supplies will be flown within days to the region and distributed to WHO and health partners on the ground. |
| | | | Norway to help Nepal. |
| [Norwaynews] [01.11.2008, 06:52pm, Sat. GMT] |
| Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Thor Gislesen today expressed commitment to extending help to Nepal for the reconstruction of demolished infrastructures during conflict. After holding a meeting with Nepal Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma `Pravakar' at latter's office, Norway Ambassador Gislesen said norway would help Nepal thorough UN Federal and Nepal Peace Trust for the rehabilitation of unqualified people's liberation armies. On the occasion, Nepal Minister Pravakar lauded the Norway for assisting to Nepal to ease the peace process, according to a press communiqué issued by the Norway Ministry. |
| | | | The Norwegian Refugee Council pulls out of Congo. |
| [Norwaynews] [31.10.2008, 11:29am, Fri. GMT] |
| The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has pulled out of the city of Goma in the DR Congo, due to the fighting between government troops and rebel groups. Regional director Ulrika Blom Mondlane left the city Thursday and is now in neighbouring Rwanda. Up to now NRC has operated a refugee camp in Goma, distributing food and trying to provide shelter for the large number of new refugees streaming into the city. However, the last few days the fighting has made their work impossible, says NRC Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson. |
| | | | Norway Landed Safely in India. |
| [Norwaynews] [29.10.2008, 10:27am, Wed. GMT] |
| Norwegian telecom call Telenor has picked up a controlling 60 percent stake in Unitech Wireless in India, the telecom arm of real estate major Unitech Ltd. In a regulatory statement Wednesday, Unitech said Telenor will invest about Rs.61.2 billion (Rs.6,120 crore) in Unitech Wireless, thereby resulting in an enterprise value - the market worth of a company - of Rs.116.20 billion (Rs.11,620 crore). Unitech Wireless has a pan-India licence for 22 telecom circles and plans to launch its services next year. Telenor has operations in Pakistan and Bangladesh and is the second largest non-Asian operator in Asia after Vodafone. |
| | | | Norway to grant Georgia $34 mln in aid. |
| [Norwaynews] [22.10.2008, 09:48pm, Wed. GMT] |
| Norway will donate 235 million kroner ($34 mln) to Georgia to help rebuild the country following its armed conflict with Russia, Norway's foreign minister said on Wednesday. "One of the main purposes of the aid is for work with refugees. Norway also intends to assist in disabling explosive devices that were left unexploded after the armed conflict in August," Jonas Gahr Store was quoted as saying in a ministry press release. During a meeting of international donors on Wednesday in Brussels to discuss aid for Georgia, the diplomat said Norway would also help in reforming Georgia's judiciary and work to improve the country's energy sector, in particular hydro power. |
| | | | Passport control for Svalbard travellers.- No more uninvited guest to North. |
| [Norwaynews] [21.10.2008, 02:42pm, Tue. GMT] |
| The Norwegian Ministry of Justice has announced that passport control has been introduced for all travellers between Svalbard and mainland Norway. It is important that Norway must observe all international obligations we have entered into, says the Governor of Svalbard, Per Sefland, to the local newspaper Svalbardsposten. |
| | | | Svalbard bans criminal. |
| [Norwaynews] [16.10.2008, 05:14pm, Thu. GMT] |
| The Assistant Governor on Svalbard has barred a 28 year-old man from entering the Arctic archipelago for two years. "The man has carried out a large number of crimes and his right to live here has been revoked for two years," says Assistant Governor Lars Fause. "We don’t have the time to watch out for people like this. It becomes a drain on Police resources," says Fause. Police have the right to refuse entry to Svalbard for ex-convicts, if the authorities think that they are likely to commit new crimes. |
| | | | Ireland's President visits Norway. |
| [Norwaynews] [15.10.2008, 08:56am, Wed. GMT] |
| Ireland's President Mary McAleese and her husband Dr Martin McAleese on Tuesday began an official state visit to Norway. The visit ends on Thursday. The Irish couple were received by King Harald on the steps of the Royal Palace in Oslo, before they met the President of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting), Thorbjoern Jagland and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Then followed lunch at the Royal Palace, hosted by the King and Queen Sonja. Later in the afternoon the Irish guests placed a wreath on the National Monument at Akershus Castle. |
| | | | Norwegian Foreign Minister visits Afghanistan. |
| [Norwaynews] [09.10.2008, 04:15pm, Thu. GMT] |
| Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere is back in Afghanistan on an official visit, nine months after his hotel, the Serena, was attacked on his visit to Kabul in January. The visit was kept secret as a security precaution. For the same reason, the Norwegian minister was invited to stay at President Hamid Karzai's residence, where the two leaders will also have talks. Stoere was to have visited the Serena Hotel, but this plan was changed for security reasons, NRK reports. |
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