Thursday, May 7, 2026
Peace Talks

Nordic Women Mediators’ Network visits Cyprus

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Nordic_Women_Mediators_-_CyprusA delegation of Norwegian members of the Nordic Women Mediators’ Network visited Cyprus from 26-31 May 2016, meeting UN officials, the bicommunal Technical Committee on Gender Equality, civil society and other gender stakeholders.

Launched in 2015, the Nordic Women Mediators’ Network is backed by Nordic governments and aims to increase the number of women involved in international peace mediation efforts.

Describing the meetings as “interesting and meaningful” for the women of Cyprus, UNFICYP Force Commander Kristin Lund noted that such exchanges were an important part of building support and pressure for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325, which in 2000 recognised the importance of including women at all levels of peace and security.

While in Cyprus, the delegation also met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci’s wife, Meral Akinci, UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, UN Secretary-General Special Representative on Cyprus, Lisa Buttenheim, diplomatic community members and local civil society.

The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and illegally occupied 37 per cent of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-backed talks since May 2015, with a view to reunite the island under a federal system.

(sigmalive)

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Srilanka and Norway

Tore Hattrem visits Norwegian funded programme in Jaffna

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

sampanthan-Norwegian-State-Secretary-Tore-Hattrem-Norway’s State Secretary Tore Hattrem ( Conservative Party )  visited the Norwegian funded UNDP programme in Jaffna today (01).

Following is the text of a speech he delivered on the occasion.

“Dear Government Agent, dear UNDP-representative, dear representatives from the local community,

Thank you very much for the warm welcome. I am very happy to be back in your lovely country. Sri Lanka means something special to me and I often think of all the good memories that I have from my term as Ambassador of Norway in Sri Lanka 7 years ago.

I am pleased to be here at this occasion with my colleagues from the Embassy of Norway and the members from the UN country Team in the newly released Valalai area in the Jaffna District today.

As a Norwegian, the fishery sector is close to my heart because the fishery industry is very important to the Norwegian economy with its contribution to export, income and employment generation in Norway.

Norway has a longstanding development co-operation with Sri Lanka. Some of you may remember that Norway has assisted the fisheries sector in the North decades ago and that cooperation was commonly known as “CEYNOR” which was a joint venture between Sri Lanka then known as (Ceylon) and Norway.

With assistance from Norway, several projects to improve the fishing industry were undertaken throughout the coastal areas of the island. The CEYNOR funded factory was built in Karainagar and Kurunagar to build boats and to manufacture fishing nets.

And earlier this year, Norway accepted a request from the Ministry of Fishery to assist further within the fishery sector.

In recent years, our assistance mainly focused on supporting vulnerable communities in the Northern Province. A major part of the support has been extended through the UN Organisations and civil society organisations to enhance the livelihood opportunities of the affected communities.

It is very important for people to return to their original places and re- established their lives. Therefore, the Norwegian Government has decided to financially support people to re-start the livelihood activities and promote the resettlement process.

Here in Valalai and adjoining villages, we support livelihood opportunities for targeted communities in fisheries, agriculture, livestock and alternative income-generating activities. We know you are among the first to return and that many of you have been displaced for a very long time. We understand that you face challenges when you are coming back to your own land. That you have moved back is an important symbol for the new Sri Lanka.

I am happy to be present at this occation when boats, engines, fishing gears, and some agriculture equipment is distributed for you to start your livelihoods. I sincerely hope that you will be able to re-establish your lives in your areas of origin. We hope you will contribute with hard work, and are able to rebuild your community and lives on your own land.”

Tore Hattrem was appointed State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2015. His main areas of responsibility are security policy, the High North, matters relating to the US, Russia, Eurasia and Canada, humanitarian affairs and human rights.

Mr Hattrem has been with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1992, during which time he has gained broad diplomatic experience. Prior to his current appointment, he was Director General of the Department for Regional Affairs. He served as Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012, and as Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2007 to 2010. Before that, he was Deputy Director General and Head of the Section for Peace and Reconciliation (2002–2007).

He has been Adviser in the UN Security Council Unit (2000–2002), and he has been posted to the Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN and the WTO in Geneva (1997–2000), and to the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi (1994–1997). He has also worked in the UN Section (1992–1993).

Before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked as Senior Executive Officer in the Ministry of Finance, and as officer in the Norwegian Armed Forces for several years.

Mr Hattrem has previously headed the Norwegian facilitation team in the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (a communist movement in the Philippines).

Mr Hattrem holds a Master degree in Political Science (Cand. Polit.), and a B.Sc. in Economics and Political Science. He graduated from the Norwegian Officer Candidate School in 1982.

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Defence

Lithuania eyes Norwegian air defense system

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Lithuania-eyes-Norwegian-air-defense-systemLithuania is to hold talks with Norway on procuring the Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System.

The decision on talks for the medium-range defense system was made late last week by the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense.

“We have decided to open negotiations with the Norwegian government on possible purchase of the NASAMS systems,” Lithuania’s Defense Minister Juozas Olekas told the Baltic News Service, but no details of possible system price was disclosed.

“This could simply defend our airspace in the medium range,” the minister said. “We have short-range aircraft defense systems that can reach three to five kilometers [about 1.8 to 3.1 miles], and this will be the medium range where missiles fly dozens of kilometers and can take down targets at an altitude of 15 kilometers [about 9.3 miles].”

Lithuania has been boosting its military capabilities following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and Moscow’s military activities in the Baltic Sea region.

The Baltic Times said Lithuania’s 2016 defense budget is nearly $539.6 million, with plans to increase it by about $166.8 million in 2017.

(upi)

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Economics

Norwegian sovereign fund should act on tax transparency, MPs say

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-01 at 23.51.22Norway’s sovereign wealth fund should encourage companies within its portfolio to be more transparent about their tax affairs, according to the country’s Parliament.

In a report by the Storting’s cross-party finance committee, its 18 members unanimously backed a call for Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) to publish details of how it expects companies to conduct their tax affairs.

In a chapter of the report examining the existence of tax havens, the committee said it believed improving reporting and tax transparency requirements for companies in which the NOK7.1trn (€763bn) Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) invested would “counteract” the secrecy prevalent in some jurisdictions.

It added that increased transparency would result in better-functioning financial markets and therefore urged the Norwegian government to have NBIM draft an expectation document on tax affairs.

While the publication of an expectation document is not a foregone conclusion, the government has previously heeded unanimous recommendations by the finance committee.

The committee previously called for NBIM to publish an expectation document on human rights, which it released in February.

NBIM is not averse to examining tax affairs and last year analysed the corporate governance risk associated with a number of its holdings, including their tax affairs, according to the fund’s 2015 responsible investment report.

The committee further called on the government to examine the holding structures used by NBIM to invest in real estate and report on the manager’s approach as part of the 2016 year-end annual report on the management of the sovereign fund, due to be published in the spring of 2017.

MPs said it was important the “advantages and disadvantages” of different organisational structures be properly explored, noting the NBIM’s previous commitment to look at grouping its real estate holdings into regional Norwegian-owned holding companies.

In a letter to the Ministry of Finance in November last year, NBIM chief executive Yngve Slyngstad and central bank governor Øystein Olsen explained the use of subsidiaries to manage its real estate exposure.

Their letter states: “Investing through subsidiaries is the most common way of organising unlisted real estate investments and serves to make the investments more marketable.

“The Bank is currently exploring the possibility of grouping its subsidiaries into regional holding structures for Europe, the US and Asia.

“In this context, we are considering whether it would be appropriate to use Norwegian rather than foreign holding companies.”

The letter also calls for the GPFG’s real estate allocation to be raised to 10% – a request unheeded by the government, which instead opted for a 7% upper limit.

(ipe)

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Russia and Norway

Norway eyes Russian activity

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

8f630f21Russian naval presence in the North Atlantic and High North areas is beginning to bring about the revisited notion of collective defence in the maritime domain, according to Norwegian State Secretary for Defense Oystein Bø.

Speaking at UDT 2016 in Oslo, where he delivered the inaugural speech for the event, Bø said that Russia had shown itself to have new maritime capabilities and had increased its presence in the High North waters.

‘Russian armed forces are training more often and of an increasingly complex nature, and is occurring without advanced notification. This is a revisitation of the bastion concept [used by the Soviet Navy during the Cold War],’ he said.

‘[Russia] has an increase in its ability to conduct anti-access area denial in the North Atlantic and add to this the allied presence in the High North has been gradually reduced.’

Bø was at pains to say that Norway did not consider Russia a military threat, but that it was in the interest of all Arctic states that the area remained stable.

‘We would like to see a more frequent allied presence in the High North and North Atlantic and to invest in maritime capabilities to ensure it remains politically and militarily credible.’

Bø added that Norway is in the final stages of concluding a new long-term plan of action for its Armed Forces, key among those was the need to replace the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), the procurement of a new fleet of submarines to replace the ageing Ula-class, investment in ISR capabilities and to remain committed to the F35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Norwegian Defence White Paper is due on 17 June, which will outline procurement plans through the 2020s and 2030s. Bø said that they would strive towards meeting the 2% military spending target that all NATO members aimed for, but did caution that it was as important to ensure that what was spent was done so wisely.

On the Norwegian defence industry, Bø stated that while small, there had been some notable successes, as seen with its work in unmanned technology, missile systems and remote operator stations produced by indigenous companies.

Submarines meanwhile remained a leading influencer on the seascape, thanks to the ability to conduct surveillance and covert operations, but acknowledged the increasing cost per unit of modern platforms needed to be taken into account.

‘We have to get more bang for our buck… new technology is driving more efficient operational solutions [and] the tasks are increasingly more challenging.’

In the morning session on 1 June, a senior military officer present said that hybrid military operations, similar to those witnessed in Ukraine, were also beginning to be seen in the underwater domain. This activity served to highlight some of the challenges facing navies in a changing seascape, he said.

A representative from an industry company meanwhile said that platforms were getting more expensive and larger, particularly in the undersea domain. In an effort to extract the maximum value from its own submarine fleet, Germany would test the notion of mustering two crews for one vessel in order to enable its continuous use over the next two years.

Manpower was also a hot topic during the opening morning of the event, as defence officials spoke of the difficulties in ensuring crews remained motivated during long absences at sea and the need to avoid a boom and bust cycle of platform readiness.

(UDT)

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Asia and Norway

Myanmar youth to present on joblessness in Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

myanmar-youth-telenorA young Myanmar man will be representing his country and his region in Oslo, Norway in December, thanks to his eloquence and debating skills.

Ko Phyo Thura Htay, one of three young Myanmar to attend last week’s Asia Youth Forum in Bangkok, was invited to the World Youth Forum after his presentation on unemployment.

The May 25-26 forum brought together 27 young people from 13 Asian countries. Arkar Min Aung and Ma Hsu Wai Soe also represented Myanmar.

Ko Phyo Thura Htay and four team-mates from India, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia drew on their personal experience, including the suicide from depression of a family member, to illustrate the effects of joblessness on young people.

A veteran of such events, Ko Phyo Thura Htay also attended the 2015 World Youth Forum.

“We were given the assignment to talk about unemployment last month. Now we will polish our arguments and present them again in Oslo,” said Ko Phyo Thura Htay.

Liv Torres, executive director of the Nobel Peace Centre who served as a mentor to the winning group, said she had been impressed by the young people’s enthusiasm.

“I don’t think they want to go Oslo for the sight-seeing, but to develop their ideas. They are very ambitious young people who want to contribute to their communities,” she said, adding that the team members would be keeping in touch as they continue to exchange ideas for their presentation.

UNICEF senior adviser on innovation Tanya Accone said the need to make the presentation put a lot of pressure on the participants. “I know about the IT development and job opportunities in Myanmar and young people’s interest in project management, so each participant can share ideas and support each other,” she said.

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Environment

Recycling company in Romania gets EUR 1 mln from Norway for waste collecting

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-01 at 23.45.19Recycling company GreenTech will carry out a EUR 2.3 million project to improve recyclable waste collecting in 23 cities in Romania. The Norwegian Government has co-financed the project with EUR 1 million.

GreenTech is part of Green Group, the largest integrated group of recycling services in Eastern Europe, which has recently been bought by investment fund Abris Capital.

The project is managed by Innovation Norway, an organization under the Norwegian Government’s authority, and aims to collect about 15,200 tons of recyclable waste per year from retailers, companies, restaurants and hotels, as well as office buildings and people, reports local Wall-street.ro. The collected waste will be transported in the recycling factories that are partners in this project, namely Greentech, Romcarbon, Greenweee, Greenlamp Reciclare, Greenglass Recycling, Ecopaper, Vrancart, Can-Pack Romania.

The project will create at least 70 jobs at the collection points.

(romania-insider)

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Economics

Foreign workers leave Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

binary-224140-59881Foreign workers are leaving Norway like never before, new figures from Statistic Norway (SSB) show.

Norway’s economic recession has led to high unemployment rates among foreign workers and according to SSB a record number of them opted to leave the country last year.

Some 3,500 Poles left Norway while emigration was also high among migrant workers from Sweden, Lithuania and Germany. The overall number of foreign workers who packed up and left Norway is higher than ever recorded by SSB.

“Within the construction indusry, a large proportion of the employees come from abroad. It is hard for them to find new jobs because the market is very difficult,” Torben Sneve, the CEO of staffing company Adecco, said.

At the beginning of the year, 45 percent of Adecco’s employees were foreigners. Today that figure is down to 27 percent.

Sneve said that Hordaland, Rogaland and Southern Norway have been hit the hardest. In Hordaland alone, the market shrunk by 17 percent last year, he said.

(NTB)

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Srilanka and Norway

Norway’s Foreign Ministry State Secretary meets Northern Province Governor

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

norway_jaffna-Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary Tore Hattrem, who is on an official visit to Sri Lanka, met Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray today at the Governor’s office for a special discussion.

Mr. Hattrem met Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan this morning before leaving for a tour of Jaffna, where he visited the Northern Governor.

The discussions between the Governor and the State Secretary centered on issues such as resettlement of displaced persons in the Northern province, strengthening the livelihoods of the people of Jaffna and development of the fisheries and agricultural sectors. A proposal to produce electricity using solar power and wind power was also discussed.

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Media Freedom

Polish President explains appearance of First Lady’s third hand in photo

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

defaultPolish President Andrzej Duda explained why the First Lady Agata Duda has three hands in the photo posted on Facebook after the couple’s visit to Norway, Gazeta reports.

“The photo from Oslo was not retouched. The “third hand” belongs to the employee of Bureau of government protection (BOR),” the President wrote, publishing a series of pictures, which show how Agata Duda’s third hand appears.

Upon the publication of the original photos from Oslo on President’s Facebook page, a number of users noted that the new hand could have appeared in the photo of the First Lady as a result of unsuccessful retouch.

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Economics

Ryanair attacked over Oslo base closure

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

o_leary7_2832937b-large_trans++pJliwavx4coWFCaEkEsb3kvxIt-lGGWCWqwLa_RXJU8Ryanair has come under attack for deciding to close its base near Oslo – a move that is expected to result in the loss of 1,000 jobs – after Norway introduced a new tax on air passengers.

The Norwegian prime minister has accused the Irish budget airline of attempting to “dictate” policy, after the carrier announced it will scrap its base at Oslo Rygge airport – 66 kilometres from the Norwegian capital – in October and axe 16 routes, meaning its traffic in the country will fall by 50pc.

Ryanair is scaling back its operations in protest against an 80 kroner (£6.70) levy on passengers leaving the Scandinavian country that was imposed today. Rygge has warned that because Ryanair is such a major customer, the departure of the airline will force the airport to close, costing 1,000 jobs.

The stance of the no-frills carrier has provoked a stinging response from Erna Solberg, the Norwegian prime minster, who has reportedly said: “We can’t let decisions be dictated to us by a company that has already put pressure on a number of countries concerning taxes and costs.”

Ryanair, which is led by pugnacious chief executive Michael O’Leary, often takes firm public stances against policies it opposes and regularly criticises governments and other companies.

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It has waged a campaign against online travel agent eDreams because it claimed it was “deceiving” consumers with a “copycat website”. The carrier has also repeatedly called on the European Commission to make it harder for air traffic controllers to bring chaos to the skies with regular strikes.

David O’Brien, the carrier’s chief commercial officer, said: “The Italian Government, which hiked passenger taxes in January, has already said it will review its decision, given the impact its tax will have on its airports.

“Sadly, the Norwegian Government have chosen to sacrifice 1,000 jobs at Oslo Rygge for reasons which defy explanation. This is a black day for Oslo Rygge, for Norway and for Norwegian tourism.”

(telegraph)

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Russia and Norway

Russia prepares to extend ban on food from Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Russia-prepares-to-extend-ban-on-food-from-EU-Norway-United-States-Canada-AustraliaRussia is extending its ban on imports of food from the EU and other countries through the end of 2017, with exceptions for meat and vegetables for baby food.

The embargo, restricting imports of most food from the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and Norway, was instituted in 2014 in response to economic sanctions placed on Russia for its military and political involvement in Ukraine. In 2015 Russian president Vladimir Putin extended the embargo through Aug. 5, 2016 and added four more countries to the list: Albania, Montenegro, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The government is preparing documents for another extension, and will deliver them to Putin, the state-owned Tass news agency said Tuesday.

An exception was announced Wednesday for meat and vegetables used to make baby food, Tass reported.

“The embargo is currently effective until the end of August. I think these documents will be approved unless some miraculous changes occur in the geopolitics,” Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said.

While the United States exports little food to Russia, some European Union countries had a significant trade relationship with Russia prior to the embargo. A major dairy in one such country, Finland, announced the closing of a milk-processing facility because of losses caused in part by the lack of access to the Russian market. The Valio dairy company said it would close its Tampere, Finland, operations.

“The milk market remains extremely difficult; Russia continues its trade sanctions against the EU. Due to global milk overproduction and weak global demand, prices for milk products are at a very low level. The removal of EU milk quotas has worsened the situation,” a Valio statement said.

After the embargo began in 2014, Valio sold its “Oltermanni” cheese, popular in Russia, for half its regular price in Finland because of oversupply. Customers nicknamed it “Putin cheese” because of the large price discount.

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Srilanka and Norway

Norway supports people in Northern Sri Lanka

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

227a92317280f467c3420eb85e2e17bb_XLNorway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary  says it is very important for the displaced people in Sri Lanka’s north to return to their original places and re- establish their lives and therefore, the Norwegian Government has decided to financially support the war-affected people in North to re-start the livelihood activities and promote the resettlement process.

Speaking at an event held to distribute fishing and agriculture equipment to the resettled people in at Valalai, Jaffna on Wednesday, the Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary said Norway supports livelihood opportunities for targeted communities in fisheries, agriculture, livestock and alternative income-generating activities.

Jaffna Tamil journalists with Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary.

Jaffna Tamil journalists with Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary.

Visiting the Norwegian funded UNDP program, Mr. Hattrem, who served as the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2007 to 2010, said Norway has a longstanding development co-operation with Sri Lanka. He recalled that Norway has assisted the fisheries sector in the North decades ago with the “CEYNOR” project which was a joint venture between Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon and Norway.

He said in recent years, Norway’s assistance mainly focused on supporting vulnerable communities in the Northern Province. A major part of the support has been extended through the UN Organizations and civil society organizations to enhance the livelihood opportunities of the affected communities.

Jaffna Tamil journalist Mr.Kugan with Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary.

Jaffna Tamil journalist Mr.Kugan with Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary.

Earlier this year, Norway accepted a request from the Ministry of Fishery to assist further within the fishery sector, the Norwegian minister said.

The Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary distributed boats, engines, fishing gears, and some agriculture equipment to the resettled people in Valalai and adjoining villages, who were among the first to return to the original land after the war ended in May 2009.

“We know you are among the first to return and that many of you have been displaced for a very long time. We understand that you face challenges when you are coming back to your own land. That you have moved back is an important symbol for the new Sri Lanka,” Mr. Hattrem said.

“I sincerely hope that you will be able to re-establish your lives in your areas of origin. We hope you will contribute with hard work, and are able to rebuild your community and lives on your own land,” he added.

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(N.Sethu)

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Science

Norway moves to introduce tobacco packaging

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

cigarette-smoking_2195344bThe Norwegian government said on Tuesday it would present a bill to parliament in the first part of June proposing the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products in the Nordic country.

Norway’s minister of health and care services, Bent Hoie, made the announcement at an event marking the World No Tobacco Day organized by the health ministry, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Norwegian Cancer Society.

He told Xinhua he expected to receive a positive response from a majority in the parliament before Christmas and if passed, the bill would be implemented in 2017.

“We are moving slowly towards the smoke-free generation. Statistics from last year show that only four percent of Norwegian young people between the age of 16 and 24 smoked daily and only 30 percent occasionally,” Hoie said in the announcement.

“However, the consumption of smokeless tobacco snus has increased a lot in Norway and 30 percent of men and 18 percent of women use snus, which is proven to be as dangerous as smoking to human fetuses, according to a new Swedish research,” he said.

The plain packaging would be introduced as a way to reduce smoking. The packaging would be dark green, proven to be people’s least favorite color, Hoie said, and there will be no logos or designs.

Anne Lise Ryel, secretary general of the Norwegian Cancer Society, said the tobacco industry used consumers’ emotions to advertize their products and plain packaging would remove the power of this advertizing.

“Plain packaging is one of the most important steps towards a tobacco-free society. There are six million people that die annually of use of this unnecessary product,” Ryel told the international gathering, which included representatives from Australia and Britain.

Australia, Britain, France and Ireland have passed laws to implement plain packaging and many other countries are considering the same.

Norway is the first Scandinavian country that openly supported Australia as the first country in the world to implement plain packaging in 2012.

Kylie Lindorff, manager of tobacco control policy at Cancer Council Victoria in Australia, said tens of thousands of Australian lives had been saved in the country thanks to the plain packaging measure, and reports show fewer young people starting to smoke.

“Plain packaging has contributed in three ways: it helped to reduce the appeal of tobacco products, increased effectiveness of health warnings and reduced the ability of the tobacco packs to mislead the consumers,” Lindorff said.

She noted that the standardized packaging had not led to the negative predictions of the tobacco industry.

“Plain packaging did not result in small businesses losing their customers, price drop, nor increased tobacco use,” Lindorff said, expressing the hope other Scandinavian countries would follow the Norwegian example.

(Xinhua)

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Diplomatic relations

Norway to Ban Sale of Military Equipments to Private Persons

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Seeker_400_UAS_UAV_drone_unmanned_aerial_system_Denel_South_africa_military_equipment_right_side_view_001Sale of licensed military equipments to other countries should preferably be done only with approved Nations authorities and state approved actors in the recipient countries, said Defence Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide.

According to VG, the intention is to ensure better control over who buys discarded equipment.

Soreide also considers cessation of all auction sales for materials such as wagons, tracked vehicles and larger vessels.

– This will contribute to the control of user and end-use of such materials, said the Minister.

She further proposed that all future sales of stock through a broker must be approved by the Ministry of Defence in each case.

Dagbladet had previously revealed that Norwegian manifactured military equipments has ended with paramilitaries in West Africa and in authoritarian Eritrea. This prompted the Audit Committee to open an investigation.

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Norwegian Aid

Norway Supports Fund for UN Personnel Abuse Victims

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

brende_borge‘Norway is deeply concerned about the rising number of allegations against UN personnel concerning sexual exploitation and abuse. In 2015, 99 allegations were received, as compared with 80 in 2014. Norway shares the Secretary-General’s distress at these despicable crimes, and we commend his determination to stop this scourge through a robust programme of action,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

This week, Mr Brende was in New York to take part in the High-level Thematic Debate on UN, Peace and Security.

‘Sexual exploitation and abuse undermines the credibility of the whole UN system and can ruin victims’ lives. It is totally unacceptable that vulnerable groups are exploited in this way, and we must put the needs of the victims first. Norway therefore welcomes the Secretary-General’s recent decision to establish a trust fund. Norway has decided to allocate NOK 1 million to the trust fund,’ Mr Brende said.

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Science

AW101 Norwegian all-weather SAR helicopter unveiled

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
Anders Anundsen, Norway’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, unveiled the AgustaWestland AW101 Norwegian all-weather search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter during a roll out ceremony held at Leonardo Helicopters’ Yeovil facility in southwest England. Leonardo-Finmeccanica Photo

Anders Anundsen, Norway’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, unveiled the AgustaWestland AW101 Norwegian all-weather search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter during a roll out ceremony held at Leonardo Helicopters’ Yeovil facility in southwest England. Leonardo-Finmeccanica Photo

Leonardo-Finmeccanica has announced the AgustaWestland AW101 Norwegian all-weather search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter was recently unveiled by Anders Anundsen, Norway’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, during a roll out ceremony held at Leonardo Helicopters’ Yeovil facility in southwest England.

“This roll out ceremony marks the accomplishment of a very important milestone,” said Anundsen. “The helicopter that will be an important and crucial resource for the Norwegian rescue service is now complete and ready for testing. I am very pleased with the effort made by Leonardo Helicopters so far.”

“This aircraft, the latest version of the AW101, can claim to be the world’s most capable and advanced SAR helicopter in the world,” said Daniele Romiti, managing director, Leonardo Helicopters. “The combination of the platform’s large cabin, exceptional performance and all-weather capabilities along with the very latest advanced sensors and mission equipment give the aircraft unmatched capabilities.

“We look forward to starting deliveries next year and the AW101 taking over life-saving duties from the Westland Sea King that has served Norway for more than 40 years, saving thousands of lives.”

Aircraft deliveries to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, who will fly and operate the helicopters, will start in March 2017 and continue through to 2020. As part of the contract, a 15-year “turnkey” support solution will be delivered, comprising spares, technical support and training services.

Aircraft deliveries to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, who will fly and operate the helicopters, will start in March 2017 and continue through to 2020. Leonardo-Finmeccanica Photo

Aircraft deliveries to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, who will fly and operate the helicopters, will start in March 2017 and continue through to 2020. Leonardo-Finmeccanica Photo

The aircraft is equipped with an advanced SAR equipment package including Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s newly-launched Osprey active electronically scanned array radar. Based around a flat-panel antenna design, Osprey is the world’s first lightweight airborne surveillance radar to be built with no moving parts and will provide a 360-degree field-of-view for crews.

Other equipment includes a four-axis digital automatic flight control system, two rescue hoists, searchlight, electro optical device, mobile telephone detection system and a fully integrated avionics and mission system.

The aircraft is equipped with advanced systems that enhance flight safety including a Laser Obstacle Avoidance System and Obstacle Proximity LiDAR System, which provide warnings of wires and other obstacles.

The large cabin doors and rear ramp provide easy access for personnel, survivors and equipment into the 27-cubic-meter cabin, which has stand-up head room throughout.

The AW101 benefits from three-engine safety, a full ice protection system for flight in known icing conditions, long range and endurance, a proven 30-minute “run dry” gearbox as well as multiple redundancy features in the avionic and mission systems.

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Defence

HMCS Windsor begins voyage across Atlantic for exercises off Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

B97582135Z.120160530131739000G81DN1MO.10HMCS Windsor is heading across the Atlantic to take part in multinational exercises in waters off Norway.

The submarine left its home port of Halifax Monday morning for the 12-day exercise with allied nations, including Norway and Germany.

Lt.-Cmdr. Peter Chu says the joint exercises will involve other warships, submarines and aircraft in a bid to boost crews members’ skill levels.

Chu says the 48 core crew members will focus on sonar operations and working with other submarines.

Beyond that, the captain says the exercise and a recent media tour on the vessel are part of the ongoing campaign to raise awareness of Canada’s submarine program.

“It’s an awareness that we want to bring forward, some recognition for the hard work that everyone’s been doing over the last year in the navy and the submarine force in general,” he said.

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Science

Drone, UAV survey specialists form pact offshore Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Seeker_400_UAS_UAV_drone_unmanned_aerial_system_Denel_South_africa_military_equipment_right_side_view_001Cyberhawk Innovations, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and drone inspection and survey specialist, has signed a partnership agreement Norwegian UAV operator Nordic Unmanned.

This will give customers in Norway access to Cyberhawk’s cloud-based asset management software iHawk.
iHawk converts UAV-captured images into asset management information in the cloud.

It is said to provide intuitive access to inspection data using a simple map-based interface, demonstrating the status of the asset using a traffic light system and allowing the user to probe for further engineering commentary and evidence.

In 2013, Cyberhawk performed the first drone inspection offshore Norway of a flare on an FPSO. The two companies have since completed other projects for operators in the sector.

Nordic Unmanned has more than 50 years of experience in remotely-operated technology, and more than 30 years in offshore/onshore oil and gas competencies.

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Environment

Indonesia and Norway agree to cooperate over environment, fisheries

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

2016_05_31_5566_1464698053._largeIndonesia President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende on Tuesday to discuss the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries, including by cooperating together in several sectors such as the environment and the fisheries.

Brende’s first trip to Indonesia was meant to increase cooperation between Indonesia and Norway, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Tuesday.

Indonesia and Norway had previously cooperated in the Redd+ program since 2010, which aimed to lower greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. The arrangement had three stages: namely preparation, transformation and implementation. Indonesia and Norway are currently shifting from the first to the second phase, Retno said.

“The President has ordered the acceleration of the implementation as well as the strengthening of cooperation between the Environment and Forestry Ministry and the Peatland Restoration Agency,” she said in a press statement.

Moreover, Retno said Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti had also visited Norway in August last year where she signed agreements to eradicate illegal fishing and to promote fish cultivation and sustainable fish management.

Brende had expressed Norway’s intention to increase trade and investment ties with Indonesia, Retno said, adding that Norway had invested US$1.2 billion in pension funds in Indonesia.

Furthermore, the meeting also explored other areas of cooperation between the two countries, such as in hydro power as almost 100 percent of Norway’s energy comes from hydroelectric dams and the European country has made several investment in the sector, she added. ( rin )

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Oil & Gas

Norway’s Hemla Vantage closes in on $600m Iran gas joint venture

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

2094509The contract will be a joint venture between Hemla Vantage and the Kharg Petrochemical Company, a quasi-privately-owned company, to produce and export liquefied national gas and liquefied petroleum gas by 2017.

“Hemla will secure debt financing and will be 50/50 equity partners with KPC/KGRC [the latter is a sister company of the former],” said Gerhard Ludvigsen, a founding member of Hemla group and director of Hemla Vantage.

“We are inspired that Iran really wants to shift from a traditional player to a modern player. Nobody would believe that Iran could be the first in the world to produce LNG from a floating production vessel (FLNG) in 2017,” he added.

The joint venture will purchase 200 million standard cubic feet of flared gas from offshore oilfields near Kharg Island over a period of up to 15 years. In its first phase, the site is projected to produce 500 metric tons of LNG and 200 tons of LPG per year. The FLNG barge, produced in China and ready to be shipped to reach Kharg Island by October, will be leased from Exmar, a Belgian company.

Hemla Vantage said that financing the new project will not be a problem, despite international banks being wary of doing business with Iran. Sanctions against the state were removed under the nuclear agreement which came into effect earlier this year.

Iran and Kharg Island have a lot of facilities including jetties, pipelines and storage which make projects much easier and economically justifiable, Mr Ludvigsen said.

He added that European banks, including German institutions, are ready to finance the project showing “that banks are opening up and are now being positive to engage with Iran”.

However, he did not know when exactly the contract will be signed.

Iran is pushing hard to regain its position as a global energy supplier, ramping up production and exports of oil since the start of the year and re-establishing relationships with former customers.

(Source: Financial Times)

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Norwegian Aid

Norwegian Refugee Council warns ‘human catastrophe’ is unfolding in Iraqi city

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

_77088_iraq-unrestNorwegian Refugee Council warns ‘human catastrophe’ is unfolding in Iraqi city, renews call for safe corridors to be opened to prevent massive civilian loss of life.

The siege of the jihadist-held Iraqi city of Fallujah and the 50,000 civilians believed trapped inside it is a catastrophe in the making, the Norwegian Refugee Council warned on Tuesday.

Its secretary general Jan Egeland renewed a call for safe corridors to be opened to prevent massive civilian loss of life.

“A human catastrophe is unfolding in Fallujah. Families are caught in the crossfire with no safe way out,” he said in a statement.

“For nine days we have heard of only one single family managing to escape from inside the town. Warring parties must guarantee civilians safe exit now, before it’s too late and more lives are lost,” he said.

Iraqi forces launched an operation on May 22-23 to retake the Islamic State group bastion, which lies only 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad.

Since then, only one of the more than 550 families who have managed to flee IS rule in the area were from the centre of Fallujah.

Besieged by pro-government forces numbering in the tens of thousands, the jihadists are preparing for a bloody last stand and are suspected of using civilians as human shields to slow the government advance.

NRC runs camps in Amriyat al-Fallujah, a government-controlled town south of Fallujah, where fleeing civilians are given shelter and assistance.

With elite Iraqi forces now attempting to push towards the city centre, the fighting is expected to intensify.

The aid effort across Iraq and Syria is massively underfunded but Egeland appealed for emergency funding to meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable people from Fallujah.

“There isn’t enough safe drinking water and the situation will quickly worsen with summer around the corner, and temperatures likely to hit over 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit),” he said.

“The international community must urgently provide funding so that we can help the most vulnerable people.”

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Killing

Norwegian woman found dead

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

beach11A Norwegian woman has been found dead on the island of Mallorca and Spanish police are investigating the death as suspicious.

The woman was found dead in a Mallorca apartment on Monday.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware that a Norwegian citizen has been found dead in Spain. Relatives have been notified,” ministry spokeswoman Astrid Sehl told VG.

VG contacted local police, but they declined to comment on the case.

Local newspaper Diario de Mallorca reported that the woman was a 61-year-old Norwegian tourist.

She was found on Monday in a flat in the resort of Can Pastilla on the southern coast of Mallorca that she shared with her partner. The newspaper described the death as “violent and bloody”.

Police reportedly had difficulty identifying the woman as the tourist apartment she was found in had been rented under a different name.

Investigators told Diario de Mallorca that the woman is assumed to have died late on Sunday night or early Morning morning.

The woman’s body was due to be examined on Monday morning.

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Peace Talks

Troika statement on current situation in Sudan

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

FCO-Logo_1383836624Joint Statement on Aerial Bombardment in South Kordofan and De Facto Expulsion of OCHA Head.

The following statement was issued jointly by the governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Norway:

The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States) are appalled by the Sudanese government’s aerial bombardment of civilians in Kauda and the Heiban area of South Kordofan, including the bombing of St Vincent Elementary School on 25 May. The Sudanese government has a responsibility to protect all its citizens. We urge all parties to end the violence and allow immediate humanitarian access to those in need. We believe that the Roadmap presented by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel represents the way forward.

The Troika countries are also deeply concerned by the government of Sudan’s de facto expulsion of Ivo Freijsen, the Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan. The government of Sudan’s action contributes to the increasingly difficult environment to address humanitarian needs in Sudan. The humanitarian situation remains critical, with over 5.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid. We fully support OCHA’s mandate in Sudan and call on the government to review this latest decision, and lift restrictions on the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to all Sudanese affected by crisis and conflict.

Further information

Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice

Follow the Foreign Office on facebook and Google+

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fco.gov.uk

News Desk 020 7008 3100

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Africa and Norway

Nigerian-Norwegian Bilateral Chamber Inaugurated in Lagos

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Nigeria-NorwagianThe Nigerian-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (NNCC) has been launched in Lagos to promote socio-economic relationship between Africa’s biggest economy and the Nordic country.

The chamber, according to its promoters, will essentially evolve new communications channel between Nigeria’s business corporates and their Norwegian counterparts.

Described as the first such bilateral chamber between an African country and Norway, NNCC is also expected to interface with relevant organizations in both economies to promote socio-cultural ties in the two countries.

NNCC’s inauguration was performed in Lagos by the Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Rolf Kristian Ree, as part of the ceremonies marking the National Day of Norway.

At the event, Ree said: “The relationships between Nigeria and Norway are strong and good. They are growing. Nigeria is our largest trading partner on the African continent. However, Nigeria Norway relationship should not be reduced to profitable business opportunities only,” saying it should go beyond the present level of interaction to promote ethical and mutually beneficial economic, social and cultural relationships between the two countries.

On the strength of these reciprocal expectations, the Chairman of the chamber, Chijioke Igwe said the body will be undertaking economic and business research; promoting business development by aiding and supporting business entities’ identified interest areas through partnerships.

“It will create and provide action programmes designed to identify investment opportunities and put prospective partners together. The chamber will also promote trade shows, educational, civic, social and cultural programmes and fairs to foster business interaction, cultural and ethical value assimilation between business prospects.

“Businesses from both countries stand to derive immense benefits from the activities of the chamber. Enterprises that want to see their business grow into Norway and from Norway into Nigeria may never see a better opportunity to launch such initiatives than through the platform NNCC provides,” Igwe added.

So far, the founding members operate in the power; oil and gas; agriculture; construction; telecommunications; consultancy services; and other sectors in Nigeria.

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