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NORWAY NEWS – latest news, breaking stories and comment – NORWAY NEWS
NORWAY NEWS – latest news, breaking stories and comment – NORWAY NEWS
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Copyright 2025- All Right Reserved Norway News
Economics

Engie secures drilling permit offshore Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

1465190119532The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted a drilling permit to Engie E&P Norge for well 36/7-4 in offshore Norway.

Engie will use the Transocean Arctic drilling facility at position 61°24’59.72” north, 04°04’08.06” east to drill the well 36/7-4, 55km south-west of Florø and 10km north-west of the Gjøa field.

Prior to this, the facility will complete the drilling of wildcat well 31/7-1 A for Faroe Petroleum Norge in production licence 740.

As part of the drilling programme for well 36/7-4, Engie plans to drill a wildcat well in production licence 636, which was awarded on 3 February 2012.

The company operates the licence with a 30% interest. The other licensees are Idemitsu Petroleum (30%), Wellesley Petroleum (20%) and Tullow Oil Norge (20%). The area in this licence consists of a part of block 36/7.

Well 36/7-4 is the first one to be drilled within the licence area.

Before starting drilling, Engie needs to secure all permits and consents required by other authorities.

In a separate announcement, Engie announced that it has increased the gas production on Gjøa field in the North Sea by 17.5%.

Engie E&P Norge head of operations Hilde Ådland said: “Gjøa was originally designed to export 17 million standard cubic metres of gas per day (Msm³/d).

“That we are currently producing 20Msm³/d, 17.5% more than estimated, is a great achievement.”

Engie holds shares in 46 licences on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and is operator of the Gjøa field, as well as seven exploration licences.

Net production from Gjøa in 2015 was 12.6 million barrels of oil equivalent.

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Terrorist

Norwegian prosecutor wants jail for duo supporting Islamic State

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

isA Norwegian prosecutor Tuesday requested jail terms of at least six years for two men charged with supporting the militant Islamic State group as their trial closed in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

The two men, who went on trial in May, were charged with travelling to Syria in 2014 to train with Islamic State and planning acts of terrorism.

Prosecutor Frederik Ranke said joining Islamic State in 2014 showed they had terrorism plans, citing that the militant group was then known for bombing civilians and beheading hostages, Norwegian news agency NTB reported from the Oslo District Court.

A 23-year-old Russian national from Chechnya should be sentenced to seven-and-half years, Ranke said, while a 46-year-old Norwegian-Pakistani man should get a six-year sentence.

Ranke noted the second man had only spent one month in Syria.

Since 2014, Norwegian authorities have stepped up efforts to investigate foreign fighters who have returned to Norway. The goal is to stem the flow of volunteers.

The steps have indeed deterred some individuals from becoming fighters, the police security service PST said.

The younger man returned to Norway a year ago and was kept under surveillance by the PST, which suspected him of planning a new trip to Syria. The two were arrested in July.

The older defendant denied supporting Islamic State and planning terrorism. He said he went to Syria to fight with another group and to help his son return to Norway.

The son is serving an eight-year sentence for supporting Islamic State.

A recent PST estimate said at least 40 people from Norway were in Syria and Iraq.

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Asia and Norway

Norwegian businessmen keen on investment in Gilan Province fisheries

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

82104550-70781576Norwegian companies are to invest in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Gilan Province in Iran.

The Norwegian investors said in a meeting with Governor General of Gilan Province Mohammad Ali Najafi that Gilan has high potential in fisheries and they are hopeful of partnership in the fisheries and aquaculture industry.

They said they are ready to invest 10,000 billion Rials investment in production of trawlers, small fishing boats and cages for fish culture through sophisticated technology.

Najafi for his part said Gilan province is willing to benefit from experience of Norway in fish culture and seafood products.

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Science

India to be a member of Missile Technology Control Regime, confirms Norwegian envoy

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

MissileShieldSystem_US_AFPIndia is all set to become member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a key anti-proliferation grouping, as it cleared final hurdles in getting membership of the bloc that will help it access high-end missile technology.

Diplomatic sources said there was “no objection” to India’s applications for the membership of the MTCR and that the deadline for member countries to object to it had expired on Monday.

They said the plenary meeting of the 34-nation grouping will take place later this year in Seoul during which India will be formally inducted as the new entrant into the bloc.

“Mission almost accomplished. Only some procedural formalities remain before India becomes member of #MTCR,” Roald Naess, Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland tweeted.

Membership of the MTCR will help India procure high-end missile technology and surveillance systems by leading manufacturers which are allowed to be accessed by only MTCR member countries.

Sources said India had applied for the MTCR membership last year and its application was under consideration as part of a “silent procedure” which ended yesterday without any objection from any country.

There were certain formalities to be completed before India is inducted into the bloc, added the sources.
The development comes as India was expanding its diplomatic outreach seeking support for its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

India has developed a range of missile systems including Brahmos, Agni and Prithvi missile systems. Brahmos is a joint venture with Russia.

India’s application at the NSG is expected to be taken up for discussion by the NSG at its plenary meetings on 9 June in Vienna and 24 June in Seoul. China has been opposing India’s bid arguing that it was not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

(NPT).

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Politics

EU Ambassadors Note Progress of Bulgaria’s Judicial Reform

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

photo_verybig_174787At a meeting with Bulgarian Justice Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva on Tuesday, the ambassadors of the EU member states, Norway, Switzerland noted the progress of Bulgaria’s judicial reform.
The meeting was a joint initiative of Zaharieva and Dutch ambassador to Bulgaria, His Excellency Tom van Oorschot, who represented the Dutch presidency of the Council of the EU.
The meeting was also attended by Ognyan Zlatev, head of the European Commission representation in Bulgaria, as well as the three deputy justice ministers.
During the working discussion, Zaharieva presented to the ambassadors the second part of the amendments to the Judicial System Act, which had been discussed and adopted by the Council for judicial reform.
Van Oorschot thanked Zaharieva that she had invited the ambassadors again five months after their last working meeting in order to discuss the important reforms of the judiciary.
The minister’s will and efforts to bring changes to Bulgaria’s judiciary had been noted by the ambassadors at the previous meeting.
Zaharieva reminded that the first part of the bill for amendments to the Judicial System Act were tabled to the parliament in March and immediately after that work began on the second part.
Recently, the texts were adopted by the Council for judicial reform and at present the minister was organising meetings with all parliamentary represented parties.
She expressed hope that there will be broad support for this important legislation, with the idea being to table it to the Council of Ministers on June 15.
Zaharieva added that the new amendments had been subject to discussion at four consecutive meetings of the Council for judicial reform, which together had lasted for more than forty hours.
The minister noted that 4/5 of the draft was adopted unanimously by the members of the council, while a productive discussion took place on the remaining part with some good proposals suggested and included.
During the meeting, Zaharieva presented to the ambassadors some of the important amendments to the legislation which consolidate the principle of judicial self-rule, entrust the inspectorate to the Supreme Judicial Council with new powers, regulate the career development of magistrates, reform the selection and statute of jury members and introduce additional rules for judicial exams.
With the proposed amendments, the prosecutor’s office will be united but not centralised, with prosecutors and investigators no longer to be subordinate to the chief prosecutor.
The new bill also increases the accountability of the chief prosecutor and the administrative heads in the prosecution.
Van Oorschot commended the progress achieved by Zaharieva and her team in the past five months, who were guiding the reform in the right direction.
According to him, the proposed changes provide the basis for creating trust in an independent and impartial judicial system.

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Religion

Human rights watchdogs condemn Tajik opposition activists’ sentences

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

irpt_1A statement released by Human Rights Watch, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia on June 7 notes that sentenced passed on leading members and activists of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) followed an unfair trial initiated in retaliation for their peaceful political opposition and reflect the government’s pervasive manipulation of the justice system and egregious violations of the right to freedom of expression.

The human rights watchdogs called on the US, EU member states, and other international partners of Tajikistan to respond to the sentences with targeted punitive measures against Tajik officials unless concrete human rights improvements are made, including setting aside the opposition leaders’ convictions.

“If allowed to stand, these draconian sentences will not only strike a blow to Tajikistan’s peaceful opposition but to every Tajik citizen,” said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “These sentences show that anyone in Tajikistan any time can be labeled a criminal and punished simply for disagreeing with the government.”

The statement says that the trial, which began on February 24, was closed to observers and marked by serious violations of due process. Sources close to several of the defendants told Human Rights Watch that several defendants were subjected to torture or ill-treatment in pre-trial detention. Several lawyers who attempted to represent the IRPT leaders on trial, such as Buzurgmehr Yorov, were detained on trumped up charges. A lawyer who represented one of the defendants and was present in court throughout the trial told the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA) that the government presented no evidence of the defendants’ guilt, citing the allegations made in the indictments as established facts.

“The only purpose of this trial was to dress up political repression in the trappings of legal proceedings,” said Nadejda Atayeva, president of the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. “The defendants’ crimes appear to be fabricated, yet their fate was pre-determined. This is a travesty of justice.”

The United States, the European Union, and other key international actors should make unequivocal calls for the defendants’ release, Human Rights Watch, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia said. The international actors should press the Tajik government to uphold its international obligations to respect freedom of association, assembly, expression, and religion and impose targeted punitive measures, such as asset freezes and visa bans, on Tajik government officials responsible for imprisoning peaceful activists, torture, and other grave human rights violations.

“Tajikistan’s international partners should publicly and unanimously condemn this mockery of justice,” said Marius Fossum, Central Asia representative of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. “Tajikistan’s human rights situation has been spiraling downward at a rapid pace and the time has come for Washington, Brussels, and all actors to examine the possibility of enacting targeted punitive measures unless immediate human rights improvements are made.”

We will recall that Tajik authorities began to arrest IRPT leading members and activists on September 16, 2015, accusing them of involvement in an alleged attempted coup earlier that month, purportedly by deputy defense minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda.

Days before the arrests, Tajik authorities formally banned the party, forcing its closure and later declared it a terrorist organization amid a long-running campaign to stamp out opposition political activity in the country and among activists abroad.

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Asia and Norway

Iran’s Zarif to Attend Oslo Forum 2016

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

13941027133320476921094Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Norway next week to partake in the 2016 edition of the Oslo Forum, an annual international conference of armed conflict mediators and peace process actors.

The top Iranian diplomat is going to join around 100 other prominent mediators of armed conflict and peace process actors from around the world in Oslo on June 14 and 15 to share their experiences of peacemaking.

The forum is organized jointly by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a private diplomacy and conflict mediation organization.

It brings together senior conflict mediators, major actors in peace processes, key decision-makers and eminent thinkers on an annual basis to reflect on current peace processes and to strengthen the practice of conflict mediation internationally.

Other participants at the gathering will include US Secretary of State John Kerry and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan K. Eliasson as well as the foreign ministers of Kenya, Lebanon, Mongolia and New Zealand will also attend the forum.

The two-day event will feature panel discussions, debates and roundtable sessions on a variety of topics.

It is not still clear whether Zarif will hold meetings with Kerry and Mogherini on the sidelines of the conference to discuss the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

While the JCPOA came into force in January, some Iranian officials complain about the US failure to fully implement the accord.

In an interview with the Tasnim News Agency in April, Mogherini said the EU has been holding talks with the US to remove the obstacles in the way of banks trying to get into Iran after implementation of the nuclear deal.

Back in March, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Americans have yet to fulfill what they were supposed to do as per the nuclear deal.

Iran still has problems in its banking transactions or in restoring its frozen assets, because Western countries and those involved in such processes are afraid of Americans, the Leader said at the time, criticizing the US for its moves to prevent Iran from taking advantage of the sanctions removal.

(Tasnim)

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Oil & Gas

Shell ‘reshaping itself’ and planning further investment in new energy

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

22285_bannerShell’s chief executive officer, Ben van Beurden, says the company is ‘reshaping itself’ with an emphasis on stronger returns and free cash flow in order to create “a world class investment case” that is likely to include greater focus on new energy and on renewables. Shell recently became the latest fossil fuel company to bid for a slice of the fast growing offshore wind market, following Norway’s state-owned oil company Statoil into the sector (although strictly speaking, if Shell is successful, it will be re-entering the offshore wind industry, having built the 108MW Egmond offshore wind project in 2006). A consortium of Shell, Eneco and Van Oord has confirmed it is bidding to participate in the Dutch government’s tender to build two windfarms off the Dutch coast.

In a Capital Markets presentation of 7 June 2016, Mr van Beurden said he was responding to the changing energy landscape by re-shaping Shell and set out an agenda for 2020 and beyond that included taking action to manage the down-cycle in the oil industry. The company remains heavily focused on oil and gas, but will, said Mr van Beurden, play a growing role in new energies “in order to develop commercial opportunities in the energy transition.”

Setting his remarks in the context of a volatile oil industry, Mr van Beurden said: “I see important opportunities for Shell from the substantial and lasting changes underway in the energy sector. We expect to see robust demand for oil and gas for decades to come, in a global energy system in a long-term transition to lower carbon fuels.”

Mr van Beurden said that, in the currently challenging offshore oil and gas landscape, Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico represent the best real estate in global deep water. “We are developing competitive projects here based on this advantaged acreage. Shell’s deepwater production could double, to some 900 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (kboed) in 2020, compared with 450 kboed in 2015.”

Looking specifically at future opportunities, Mr van Beurden said: “There businesses are expected to become significant growth priorities for Shell beyond 2020 as we establish clear pathways to profitability. In new energies, there is potential for Shell to achieve material scale and profitability. As the energy transition unfolds, we intend to establish a portfolio to build on our established strengths in low-carbon biofuels, hydrogen and smart customer solutions; as well as in solar and wind. Many of these activities complement the company’s natural gas strategy today.

“Overall,” he concluded, “Shell’s focus is on re-shaping the company. We will retain the most competitive and resilient positions, through targeted investment, and substantial asset sales. This is a value-driven, not time-driven, divestment programme; and an integral element of Shell’s portfolio improvement plan.”

(osjonline)

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Economics

Norwegian sovereign fund grows stake in Manhattan office portfolio

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Global-Real-Estate-InvestmentsNorway’s sovereign wealth fund has grown its share in a multi-billion-dollar US office portfolio, acquiring a further 4% stake for $142m (€125m).

Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), responsible for the NOK7.1trn (€767bn) Government Pension Fund Global, said in a statement it had always intended to acquire an increased stake in the Hudson Square joint venture, comprising 11 properties in New York owned by Trinity Church Wall Street.

The joint venture agreed between NBIM and Trinity Church was first launched in November last year and saw the sovereign fund initially spend $1.56bn for a 44% stake.

The partners have also appointed Hines as the operating partner for the Manhattan portfolio, currently 94% let.

The portfolio includes assets in Hudson Street and Avenue of the Americas.

Norges made its first property investment in the US at the start of 2013 via the $600m acquisition of a 49.9% stake in a portfolio of Boston, New York and Washington assets.

The sale saw the New York church’s endowment grow significantly in size to nearly $1.7bn in liquid assets at the end of 2015, and an additional $378m in real estate assets.

The church owns a total of 18 office assets in Manhattan.

(realestate)

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Oil & Gas

North Sea helicopter firm says it will no longer use Super Puma H225s following fatal crash

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 8, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Helicopter-CrashCHC say the decision is based on “customer demand” with the move coming in the wake of the crash in Norway in April that killed a Scottish oil worker

OPERATOR CHC will no longer fly Super Puma H225 helicopters – the type involved in the fatal Norway crash in April – from its Aberdeen base.

CHC said the decision was “based on customer demand” and would only change at the request of customers.

The aircraft and a second Super Puma model are grounded under a European Aviation Safety Agency directive issued six days ago.

The no fly order was made after investigators examining the wreckage of the Super Puma H225 which crashed in Norway killing 13 people found signs of metal fatigue in the aircraft gearbox.

A CHC spokeswoman said: “CHC is committed to having a resilient, mixed fleet that provides the right aircraft at the right time to meet our customers’ helicopter service requirements.

“In Scotland, over the past few weeks, we have engaged closely with our H225 customers about the immediate term but also looking forward to the future.

“As a service provider to our customers, we must understand, accept and respond to their operational requirements and wishes.

“In the future, when the H225 fleet returns to service and customers wish to fly the aircraft, we will appropriately adjust the mix of aircraft in our fleet.

“Providing a safe and reliable service to our customers remains CHC’s top priority.”

The operator does not fly the aircraft from its other UK bases.

Eleven passengers, including oil worker Iain Stuart from Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, and two crew members were killed after the aircraft crashed near the city of Bergen on April 29.

Crash victim Iain Stuart
The CHC aircraft was travelling from the North Sea Gullfaks B oil field, about 74 miles off the Norwegian coast, when it crashed en route to Flesland Airport.

Initial investigations found the helicopter was flying at 2,000ft when the main rotor head suddenly detached from the body of the helicopter and it smashed into the rocky shoreline of Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, western Norway, and burst into flames.

Investigators said the “sudden catastrophic failure” developed in one to two seconds.

In a recent report, the Accident Investigation Board Norway said they had found “features strongly consistent with fatigue” in the gearbox and warned “the current means to detect a failure in advance are not effective”, issuing an urgent safety recommendation which led to the fleet being grounded.

CHC previously grounded its UK Super Puma fleet In August 2013 after a Super Puma AS332 L2 aircraft plunged into the North Sea off Shetland, killing four people

They resumed flying shortly after when they were given the all-clear by experts. Investigators ruled pilot error caused the crash.

The EC225 variant Super Puma – now known as the H225 – had been grounded until earlier that month after one crash off Aberdeen and one off Shetland.

All passengers and crew were rescued in both incidents, which were found to have been caused by gearbox problems.

(dailyrecord)

June 8, 2016 0 comments
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Asia and Norway

Norway to help Iran on countering diseases in aquaculture

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 7, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

2100959Head of Iran Veterinary Organization, Mehdi Khalaj, met with Norway’s ambassador to Tehran, Aud Lise Norheim, and discussed cooperation on fishery and fish diseases.

“The development of bilateral cooperation in scientific and technical areas within the framework of the signed MoU between Tehran and Oslo is of underlined value,” said Mehdi Khalaj, the Head of the Iran Veterinary Organization (IVO) on Tuesday in his meeting with Norwegian ambassador to Tehran, Aud Lise Norheim.

The Iranian official, during the meeting, called for cooperation on countering and controlling diseases of the fish farmed in netcage fish farming projects.

“Iran has the capacity and preliminaries for exporting fishery products to the EU and currently Iranian prawns are exported to the member states of the union, in line with all the passed regulations of the EU,” contended Khalaj.

The Norwegian ambassador, in this meeting, voiced her willingness to follow-up a Memorandum of Understanding between veterinary organizations of Iran and Norway, in addition to holding joint training courses for the veterinarians who are hired in aquacultural plants.

“Norway has been the pioneer of aquacultural fish farming and has got a highly-developed technology and scientific methodology in dealing with diseases in farmed fish,” boasted the Norwegian envoy to Tehran.

June 7, 2016 0 comments
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Diplomatic relations

Malta and Norway hold bilateral talks

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

4f9b9da0c5ed947ac18d86038ce2781b60294f5f-1465235626-5755b8aa-620x348Maltese Foreign Minister George Abela met with Norway’s EU Affairs Minister Elisabeth Aspaker today.

The official talks centred on the Mediterranean’s ongoing problems with irregular migration, with both ministers stressing the urgency of the situation as well as the importance of the humanitarian aspects of the phenomenon.

Ms Aspaker said that Norway remained committed to working with the EU to address common challenges.

Dr Vella thanked Norway for financial support and cooperation provided under the European Economic Area and the Norway Grants Programme. He said the two countries should explore new possibilities to further augment commercial exchanges and contacts, together with maximising existing tourism potential.

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Science

First week of June sees burst of activity in AHTS market

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

22245_bannerThe beginning of June saw a burst of activity on the market for anchor handling tug/supply vessels in the North Sea. 3 June saw a total of 13 fixtures – including Statoil taking no less than nine anchor handlers and a platform supply vessel (PSV). The market remained tight as of 6 June as a result with just one anchor handler available prompt in Aberdeen, along with five PSVs available, although in Norway availability was ‘sold out.’

Broker Westshore said the market was expecting Statoil to come to market for vessels for one, or potentially two rig moves, but few if any anticipated that more than three or four vessels would be fixed. In the end, nine were fixed in one fell swoop and the market went from having plenty of available tonnage to a single vessel free in the whole of the North Sea.

Another broker, Offshore Shipbrokers, said there had been a couple of fixtures since the weekend of 4/5 June, with Norway still tight.

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Asia and Norway

Telenor Launches Tonic in Bangladesh

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Dhaka_2000_px-1250x585Telenor today unveiled its first move to significantly improve healthcare in emerging markets, with the introduction of its digital health service Tonic in Bangladesh. By addressing local health challenges through technology, Telenor takes another step in the digital space.

Tonic is one of the first digital offerings to connect the dots across the healthcare ecosystem and address the full spectrum of wellness and health needs through a mobile-based integrated digital service. From prevention-focused digital content to phone-based primary care information to financial assistance (discounts and insurance) for hospital care, Tonic is centered around each member’s unique health needs and designed to provide incentives that promote greater health over the long term.

“Harnessing technology in order to address basic health challenges is an area of growing interest for Telenor, especially in countries like Bangladesh,” said Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group. “Health and particularly digital health has the potential of becoming an integral part of our development as the customer’s favorite partner in digital life, and there is no better place to start than Bangladesh. We have been present in the country since 1997, longer than any other Asian market, and furthering access to primary healthcare including insurance solutions, medical professionals, aspirational health content and discounts for hospitals is an extension of our commitment to empowering the community.”

Currently, Telenor serves more than 185 million customers across Asia. The mobile service provider has established a new subsidiary called Telenor Health to scale Tonic and other digital health services to other markets upon success in Bangladesh.

Telenor ASA (Nasdaq: TELN)

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Environment

10 EU countries to co-operate on offshore wind

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

22236_bannerWindEurope says it welcomes an agreement signed by 10 EU countries to co-operate on offshore energy in northern Europe. On 6 June in Luxembourg, Energy Ministers from 10 EU member states signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and work programme to enhance co-operation on renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. The ministers of Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, France, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium and the UK signed the agreement, which aims to reduce the costs and accelerate the deployment of wind power at sea.

WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said: “The agreement signed in Luxembourg today is a major step forward to fully realising the potential of offshore wind in Europe. It is a good combination of top-down and bottom-up: top-down political commitment to take bottom-up practical action to reduce costs and facilitate the deployment of offshore wind. We congratulate ministers for the ambition they have shown and the Dutch presidency for having made this happen. It is a clear statement of intent that gives confidence to the offshore wind industry and will help drive further investments.”

The agreement outlines a number of actions to help reduce costs in offshore wind, including co-operation on spatial planning, grids, finance, technical standards and regulation such as health and safety rules. The MoU also highlights the need to co-ordinate the timing of offshore wind tenders and explore options for joint support schemes. The signing of the MoU comes on the same day as 11 leading energy companies sign a declaration saying offshore wind can reduce costs to €80/MWh by 2025 with a strong pipeline of projects.

Mr Dickson said: “The industry has reinforced the new commitments of the 10 governments by making its own new commitment on cost reduction for offshore wind. Costs can continue to come down quickly, but the volumes must be right. The main challenge facing offshore wind today is the visibility of market size and regulation after 2020. Clear targets for deployment and tendering will unlock new investments, reduce the cost of capital and allow us to meet the cost reduction target. We now look to the 10 member states to deliver on the work programme. The industry stands ready to support. Together we can make offshore wind a central piece of a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system in Europe.”

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Sports

Oslo: Monumental 200m Clash To Highlight Bislett

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
Dafne Schippers (NED) clocked 22.12 winning the Women's 200m at the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme 2015, the second final of the IAAF Diamond League

Dafne Schippers (NED) clocked 22.12 winning the Women’s 200m at the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme 2015, the second final of the IAAF Diamond League

The women’s 200m at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games has become one of the most intriguing clashes of the IAAF Diamond League. The clash between the “flying Dutchwoman” Dafne Schippers and Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson is truly a match up to wet any appetite.

Schippers of course has become the pride of the continent with sensational double at the 2014 European Championships where she convincingly won the 100m and 200m events. Since then she has progressed to be the World Champion at 200m in a performance of 21.63, which made her the 3rd fastest 200m runner of all time and was also the overall winner of the Diamond League at this distance.

Following on from her magical breakthrough season in 2015, Schippers has continued her brilliant form this year, by claiming a hard fought silver medal at the World Indoor Championships over her non favoured distance of 60m. More recently she showed excellent form when she finished brilliantly in the Doha Diamond League 100m to claim 2nd place in a very swift time of 10.83 – her second fastest 100m ever – and last weekend she looked ridiculously easy over 200m, when she stopped the clock at 22.02 in less than favourable conditions.

However, the Dutch superstar will not have things her own way as she will encounter her fiercest rival in the 200m in Oslo, the highly talented Jamaican Elaine Thompson who in a very short time has developed a fearsome competition record. Thompson first came to light in early 2015 with some startling performances on home soil and in various Diamond League competitions (at 100m in Eugene and 200m in London). But it was at the World Championships where the native of Banana Grove in Manchester, Jamaica really showed her class by running a startling 21.66 for the 200m and finishing inches behind the winner Dafne Schippers’s 21.63.

The couple renewed their rivalry at the recent World Indoor Championships where Schippers narrowly took silver and Thompson the Bronze. Once again the margin between the two athletes was very small indeed, in Portland a mere two hundreds of a second separated the two at the finish.

Of course Thompson showed that she is well advanced in her Olympic preparation by clocking an impressive 10.87 to win the Diamond League 100m in Rome and looks to be quickly approaching her very best form.

The margins between these high class athletes has been miniscule. Both are clearly in supreme shape and a winning time under 22 seconds will surprise nobody.
……………………………………
ExxonMobil Bislett Games

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Environment

World’s largest Climate and Rainforest Conference to be held in Oslo

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

arial-view-of-amazon-rainforest_foto_neil-palmerciat_breddeOn June 14th and 15th, 500 politicians, private sector companies, indigenous peoples representatives, researchers and civil society organizations from all over the world gather in Oslo to discuss how to stop the destruction of the world’s tropical forests.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg will officially open the conference. Ministers from a number of Norway’s most important partner countries are participating. So will the newly appointed head of the United Nations Environmental Program, Erik Solheim and Norway’s Climate and Environment Minister, Vidar Helgesen.

– The Paris Agreement confirms that reducing emissions from the destruction of tropical forests is an integral part of the solution to the world’s climate issues. This destruction must be halted within the next few years if we are to reach the global climate targets and the UN Sustainability Goals. This is one of the large-scale climate measures in which we see progress. We have invited the key stakeholders to Oslo to share experiences and challenge each other for even better results going forwards, says Climate and Environment Minister, Vidar Helgesen.

The Oslo REDD Exchange conference gathers politicians at national and regional levels from partner countries, environmental and indigenous peoples organizations, researchers, and representatives from paper and palm oil companies that have made commitments to reduce deforestation.

The Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative has since 2008 invested in measures to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+). The work is implemented by governments, the UN and the World Bank, indigenous peoples and civil society in forest countries. A number of the countries and organizations represented at the conference have received support from Norway to pursue their agendas.

Several of the measures to reduce deforestation will be implemented at regional and local levels. Regional governments will therefore be key actors of change. The conference includes regional governors from the key partner countries Peru and Indonesia. Norway recently announced its first disbursement under the Peru Partnership. The funds will be allocated to measures against illegal logging and to secure land rights by means of titling the land of at least 68 indigenous groups in Ucayali and San Martin. The Governors from Ucayali, San Martin and Loreto in Peru will be part of the conference.

The Oslo REDD Exchange 2016 is the most important global arena for climate and rainforest since the historic Paris Agreement. The conference is hosted by Norad at the request of the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Sports

Nainggolan plays 90 minutes as Belgium beat Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

f4x4avduqte935lj3jaqRadja Nainggolan recovered from a minor calf complaint to start Belgium’s final Euro 2016 warm-up friendly against Norway on Sunday.

The Giallorossi midfielder, who picked up the injury during Belgium’s training camp in May, played the whole match in Brussels, which the Red Devils won 3-2.

Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots had announced that Radja would play during a press conference ahead of the game.

“It’s the last week before the Euros and the adrenaline is starting to rise,” he told reporters on Saturday. “Nainggolan will play the full game against Norway if he’s able to. What I’m interested in is the players getting minutes under their belts – I want them all to go into the Euros without having played too much but with enough in their legs for the tournament.”

Belgium are in Group E along with Italy, Republic of Ireland and Sweden at the European Championship, which runs from 10 June to 10 July. Nainggolan’s national side face the Azzurri in their opening game.

Radja featured 42 times and scored six goals for the Giallorossi last season and played a key role for Belgium during the qualifying process, with nine appearances and two goals.

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Diplomatic relations

Driver smuggled antiquities in Norwegian Ambassador’s car

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

resizedimg91859Norwegian Ambassador’s chauffeur arrested in attempt to smuggle 10 kg of artifacts across the border in official car.

The Norwegian Ambassador to Israel’s chauffeur was arrested on the Allenby Crossing between Israel and Jordan, as he attempted to smuggle ancient artifacts out of the country.

Customs Authority agents discovered some 10 kilograms of antique sculptures, coins and other items concealed in cardboard boxes and hidden in the walls of the Norwegian Ambassador’s Mercedes late last month.

The precise value of the antiquities has yet to be determined.

The driver, Issa Nagam of Beit Hanina in Jerusalem, was arrested under suspicion of antiquities smuggling, and later released to house arrest with strict conditions on his movement by a Jerusalem court.

Nagam was arrested on May 31, as he traveled along Allenby Bridge in the Ambassador’s car, together with an unidentified senior Norwegian diplomat.

(israelnationalnews)

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Politics

Aquaculture NZ pays for council delegation to visit Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 6, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

1465190119532A councillor going on a trip to Norway financed by an aquaculture lobby group says it is not a conflict of interest.

Marlborough councillor David Oddie chairs the hearings panel that deals with marine farm resource consents in the Marlborough Sounds and will sit on the panel of councillors hearing submissions on the Marlborough Environment Plan.

Aquaculture New Zealand are paying for Oddie, compliance manager Gina Ferguson and Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith to go on the five-day trip this month.

The delegation also includes Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie, Environment Southland representatives, and the Southland District Council mayor Gary Tong and staff.

Oddie said they would talk to local politicians and industry experts at the AquaVision conference in Stavanger before looking at aquaculture in the Fjords.

“I don’t see my role there as being in conflict of my position on council in any way,” Oddie said.

“There will always be the perception that we will be lobbied by the industry. That happens all the time, I don’t have to be at a conference for that to happen.”

Environment committee chairman Peter Jerram was the natural choice for the trip but could not attend due to personal reasons, Oddie said.

Mayor Alistair Sowman and chief executive Mark Wheeler were unavailable due to work schedules.

New Zealand’s coastal policy statement required the council to enable aquaculture in the Sounds.

It was the council’s job to decide how much marine farming was environmentally sustainable.

“Council is concerned that we could have that process removed from us,” Oddie said.

Central Government wanted to grow aquaculture and New Zealand King Salmon had requested under-performing farms in the Queen Charlotte Sound would be better off moved to the Tory Channel.

“It’s important for me that council remains around the table and is involved in the discussions.

“This trip is about gaining prospective as a councillor and building relationships with the industry and central Government.”

The trip had no connection to the Marlborough Environment Plan’s aquaculture chapter shelved by council until next year, Oddie said.

After 10 years of consultation, the plan was due to outline how aquaculture fits into the sustainable management of the Sounds for the next decade but council said there was more work to be done.

Oddie sat on the hearings panel that would hear submissions on the plan.

The Norway conference held every two years attracts business leaders and aquaculture entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries.

Smith said the delegation was invited by Aquaculture New Zealand and the Norwegian provincial County Council of Rogaland.

Aquaculture New Zealand were unavailable for comment.

“I’m looking forward to learning how other aquaculture producing nations manage their social licence and environmental challenges, as well as exploring further the new technologies and the economic potential that aquaculture offers to New Zealand and to the Marlborough region in particular,” Smith said.

Aquaculture generated $160 million in regional GDP, nearly 6 per cent of Marlborough’s regional activity.

“Marlborough is the primary region in New Zealand for aquaculture, with about 62 per cent of total national aquaculture production coming from our region. The industry supports over 850 local jobs, paid at a much higher rate than average local wages.”

-(The Marlborough Express)

June 6, 2016 0 comments
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Environment

Norway’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 5, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

UN_SDG_LogoOn Monday 6 June, 300 leaders from the UN, business industry, civil society and politics will meet at Hotel Bristol to discuss how Norway and Norwegian business can take an active role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Several international and national leaders will participate at the conference arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), Yara International and The Norwegian ForUM for Development and Environment.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende, President of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development David Nabarro, will initiate the Conference.

Other speakers include:
Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International
Kristin Halvorsen, Director of Center for International Climate and Environmental Research
Elisabeth Grieg, Chairman of the Grieg Group
Jon Hindar, CEO of Cermaq
Borghild Tønnessen-Krokan, Acting Director at Forum for Development and Environment
Svein Oppegaard, Executive Director, Labour market and Social Affairs at NHO
Jon Lomøy, Director of Norad

(Nadarajah Sethurupan)

June 5, 2016 0 comments
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Sports

Nordic Tournament, defeating Norway 2-1

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 5, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

160604 U23WNT v NOR Starting XIThe U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team won for the second time in two games at the four-team U-23 Women’s Nordic Tournament, defeating Norway 2-1 on goals from Tyler Lussi and Savannah Jordan.

The tournament is taking place at the St. George’s Park Football Centre, the National Training Center of the England FA in Burton-upon-Trent, located about 130 miles north of London.

In its final match of the competition on June 7, the USA will face the U-23 Women’s National Teams of England and can win the tournament with a victory or a tie. In this tournament, teams are awarded one point for a tie at the end of regulation and then the matches go to penalty kicks, with the winner of the shootout getting an additional point.

With the current point standings after two games for each team as follows – USA (6), England (5), Norway (1) and Sweden (0) – should the USA and England tie, and England win the shootout, both teams would have seven points, but the USA would still take the title on goal difference as it’s currently at +3 while England is at +1.

The USA opened the scoring in the 42nd minute after McKenzie Meehan won a ball deep in the Norway half on the left wing and played a short square pass centrally to Lussi who crushed a shot from 20 yards off the underside of the cross bar. The ball bounced down just over the goal line to give the USA a 1-0 lead.

The USA scored three minutes into the second half as Rachel Hill played a pass to Jordan who was making a run up the middle. Confronted by two defenders at the top of the penalty box, Jordan danced with the ball a bit before playing a pass for Lussi out on the left side of the penalty area. Lussi beat a defender to the inside and played it back to Jordan, who evaded three defenders before smacking a low left-footer under the ‘keeper and into the net to make it 2-0.

It was Jordan’s third goal of the tournament after she scored twice in a 3-1 win against Sweden on June 2.

Norway scored in the 71st minute, but would not beat U.S. goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel again.

U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team Match Report

Match: United States U-23 WNT v. Norway U-23 WNT
Date: June 4, 2016
Competition: U-23 Women’s Nordic Tournament
Venue: St. George’s Park Football Centre; Burton-upon-Trent, United Kingdom
Weather: 60 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 1 2
NOR 0 1 1

USA – Tyler Lussi (McKenzie Meehan) 42nd minute
USA – Savannah Jordan (Tyler Lussi) 48
NOR – Johanne Fridlund (Amalie Velve Eikeland) 71

Lineups:
USA: 22-Madalyn Schiffel; 14-Christina Gibbons, 16-Kirsten Crowley, 5-Maddie Bauer, 20-Caroline Flynn (15-Brittany Basinger, 81), 13-McKenzie Meehan (4-Rachel Hill, 46), 6-Andi Sullivan (capt.) (2-Claire Falknor, 71), 10-Morgan Proffitt, 7-Margaret Purce (11-Toni Payne, 46), 25-Ashley Herndon (3-Savannah Jordan, 46), 17-Tyler Lussi
Subs Not Used: 1-Jane Campbell, 18-Stephanie Rebeiro
Head Coach: Janet Rayfield

NOR: 2-Cecilie Redisch Kvamme (13-Mali Lilleas Naess, 59); 3-Ingrid Katrine Buer Sondena (16-Lena Soleng Hansen, 64), 5-Nora Byom-Nilssen, 6-Vilde Boe Risa (18-Ingrid Marie Spord, 59), 7-Karina Saevik, 9-Andrea Segnant Thun (14-Pernille Velta, 80), 10-Guro Reiten (17-Andrine Hegerberg, 46), 11-Synne Sofie Kinden Jensen (8-Johanne Fridlund, 64), 15-Stine Pettersen Reinas, 20-Amalie Vevle Eikeland
Subs Not Used: 1-Mari Johnsen Johnasen
Head Coach: Nils Lexerod

Stats Summary: USA / NOR
Shots: 11 / 9
Shots on Goal: 8 / 8
Saves: 7 / 6
Corner Kicks: 1 / 3
Fouls: 9 / 13
Offside: 0 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
NOR – Stine Pettersen Reinas (caution) 32nd minute

Officials:
Referee: Andrew Hendley
Assistant Referee 1: Jessica Lawson
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Evans
4th Official: Kevin Caroll

2016 U-23 Women’s Nordic Tournament Results

June 2
USA 3, Sweden 1
England 1, Norway 1*

June 4
USA 2, Norway 1
England 1, Sweden 0

June 7
USA vs. England
Sweden vs. Norway

*England won in penalty kicks. Tournament rules award teams one point for a tie and one point for a penalty kick win.

June 5, 2016 0 comments
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Environment

Norway Might Impose Ban on Sales of New Gasoline Cars

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 4, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-04 at 23.23.18According to prominent Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (subscription required), the Scandinavian country agreed to enact a sales ban on gasoline-powered cars by the year 2025. Apparently, the four primary political parties of Norway were locked in a debate regarding the proposed ban, and might have reached an agreement this week.

Despite Norway’s status as one of the world’s primary oil exporters , members from both the left and the right side of the political spectrum worked together to create this ban. If the law officially passes, the only new vehicles sold in Norway would be electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars.

While this ban might initially seem unrealistic, Norwegians purchase more electric vehicles than any other country, with electric cars occupying a 24 percent share of the market already. Manufacturers are ramping up development and production of zero-emissions cars, so Norwegian buyers will have access to a larger lineup of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to choose from when it bids ha det to gasoline.

What doesn’t fit into this electrified utopia are perhaps those who might rely on vans and trucks for hauling and working in inhospitable terrain. While certain amends would likely arrive for companies who value compact trucks like the Volkswagen Amarok and Toyota Hilux, Norway would likely see a shrinking of fuel station infrastructure as a result, making the regular operation of combustion engines increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, there are no zero emissions trucks currently in production that would meet Norway’s stringent proposal.

According to a report from Electrek, this isn’t the first time a ban on combustion engines was considered. India is currently creating a ban by 2025, with the Dutch looking to impose the same restrictions by 2030, with parliament currently split on the controversial issue.

Of course, Tesla kingpin Elon Musk celebrated the news on Twitter, where he commended the Norwegians for moving forward with the proposed ban.

According to Electrek, the two of the four political parties have yet to completely agree to this ban.

June 4, 2016 0 comments
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Racism in Norway

Romanian family living in Norway get their children back after seven months

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 4, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-04 at 15.48.16Romanian Marius Bodnariu and his Norwegian wife Ruth Bodnariu will reunite with their children after nearly seven months, as the Naustdal Municipality in Norway has agreed to return all of their five children.

Marius and Ruth Bodnariu have been living in Norway for more than 10 years. Their life changed in mid-November last year, when the Norwegian child protection services (Barnevernet) took their five children and placed them in foster homes for alleged mistreatment. The youngest of the children was only three months old when the authorities took him.

The case triggered many reactions and protests in Romania and abroad as thousands rallied in front of Norway’s embassies asking that the children be returned to their family. The protests, which were coordinated through social media, took place all around the world, from Melbourne in Australia to Portland in the US.

In Romania, thousands rallied in the big cities in support of the Bodnarius. The protests prompted a group of Romanian MPs to visit Norway and talk to the authorities about this case.

“We thank you all for your love, support, prayers, and active participation in the reunification of this family. May God richly bless you and repay you for all you have done to bring this family back together. It is very important for all of us to respect the privacy and uninterrupted intimacy of this family in the following period as the children resettle and reintegrate themselves in their natural family home and environment,” reads a statement of the family.

The Bodnariu case was also reflected in the international media and fueled concern within the country and abroad over Norway’s child protection practices. The Norwegian law is very strict and states that parents are forbidden to physically discipline their children. The social workers, however, have been quick to separate children from their families, with too little justification, particularly when one or both of the parents were immigrants, BBC wrote in April.

Norwegian officials said the protests and the media coverage in this particular case were part of a well-coordinated campaign against the country’s child protection services.

On Thursday, June 2, Romanian MP Ben Oni Ardelean announced in a Facebook post that a report on the Bodnariu case was approved in the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE).

“Today, the members of the Committee for Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have decided to elaborate a Draft Report on: “Striking a balance between the best interest of the child and need to keep the families together”. […] The report will consider to which extent the abusive measures taken by the Childcare Social Services (Barnevernet) from Norway are compatible with the Council of Europe’s standards in this specific field, and the resolution, which will draw the main conclusions from the report, will make concrete legislative recommendations to the Norwegian competent authorities,” reads the Facebook post.

June 4, 2016 0 comments
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Peace Talks

Philippine Govt to Meet Communist Rebels in Norway this Month

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 4, 2016
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
Members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) belonging to the Pulang Bagani Command celebrate the 40th Founding Anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) somewhere in Davao City on Friday, December 26, 2008. The NPA, which is the armed wing of the CPP, has been fighting for the establishment of the Marxist state in the Philippines since 1968. AKP Images/ Keith Bacongco

Members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) belonging to the Pulang Bagani Command celebrate the 40th Founding Anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) somewhere in Davao City on Friday, December 26, 2008. The NPA, which is the armed wing of the CPP, has been fighting for the establishment of the Marxist state in the Philippines since 1968. AKP Images/ Keith Bacongco

Representatives of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, or NDFP, which represents the communist rebels of the country, will meet this month in Norway to prepare for possible ceasefire talks, media reported Friday.

Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, who lives in Holland, said in a video conference with Philippine journalists Thursday the preliminary dialogue will begin mid-June, the Interaksyon website reported, although representatives of the incoming government are yet to confirm the place and date of these talks.

Sison hoped the NDFP and the team of Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte will arrive at an agreement in Oslo this month on the issues to be addressed in the peace negotiations.

Sison said the preliminary talks will also cover the issue of his possible return to the Philippines in July or August, after three decades, once Duterte takes office.

“It would be reckless of me to return home while (Benigno) Aquino is still the President,” he added.

Duterte has publicly invited Sison to return to the Philippines on several occasions, but NDFP said several conditions will have to be fulfilled before he does so, including a guarantee that he could return to Holland as a political exile if necessary.

NDFP’s another condition is the release of 543 political prisoners and the setting up of a mechanism to begin a mutual cessation of hostilities.

Sison has been living in Holland since 1987 after he fled the Philippines following the end of the regime of Ferdinand Marcos and the failure of the first attempt to hold peace negotiations.

The last round of talks with the communists ended in April 2013, after the government refused to release some political prisoners who had been appointed to participate in the peace talks.

Nonetheless, Duterte has announced he is willing to order the release of some insurgents even before a peace agreement is signed.

The Communist Party of the Philippines was founded in 1968 as a clandestine political organization with the aim of overthrowing the government.

The New People’s Army is the military arm of the party and has 6,000 members.

It has been engaged in a 45-year-long conflict, which has caused close to 30,000 deaths.

June 4, 2016 0 comments
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