News 2005

Dr Nora Sveaass has been appointed to sit on the UN Committee against Torture. She is among five new members chosen at the meeting of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Torture in Geneva this week. 

  The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is contributing a total of NOK 11.2 million (USD 1.67 million) to UN efforts to prevent the spread of avian flu in Asia and from Asia to other parts of the world. The spread of the virus must be stopped in order to prevent serious humanitarian consequences of the "bird flu". 

“The award of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Dr Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) highlights one of the most serious security challenges facing the world today,” said Foreign Minister Jan Petersen. The Nobel Committee’s choice is a clear recognition of Dr ElBaradei’s important work through many years as Director General of the IAEA.

On behalf of seven countries Norway presented the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Jean Ping, with a ministerial declaration and proposals for the outcome document of the High Level Plenary Meeting to take place in New York in September this year. Secretary General Kofi Annan thanked Mr. Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of Norway, saying the document provides a basis for a wide-ranging consensus on the issues of disarmament and non-proliferation.

Participants at the Oslo Donors’ Conference on Sudan pledged a total of more than USD 4.5 billion for 2005-2007 for Sudan, far exceeding the estimated needs.

During his first visit to UN headquarters as Norwegian Foreign Minister, Mr Jonas Gahr Støre met on 31 October 2005 with Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The new government's foreign policy priorities, including strengthening the UN, were among the topics discussed. Mr Støre also had talks with General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, IAEA General-Director Mohammed ElBaradei and Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Mr. Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of Norway, signed today an agreement with the UNDP to enhance cooperation between Norway and UNDP in Southern Caucasus. Under the agreement Norway will contribute USD 10 million over three years.

The conflict in Sri Lanka is going through its most turbulent phase since the ceasefire agreement was concluded. The Co-Chairs of the Sri Lanka peace process (USA, EU, Japan and Norway) held an extraordinary meeting in New York on September 19th, where they called on the LTTE to take immediate public steps to demonstrate their willingness to change.  

"We need a more relevant General Assembly as the chief policymaking body of the organisation. This will require strategic leadership on the part of the Member States. The Secretary-General, as the chief administrative officer, must be granted sufficient authority and flexibility to carry out his duties," Foreign Minister Jan Petersen said in his statement delivered to the General Assembly on 23 September 2005:

A meeting with Secretary-General Kofi Annan concluded Foreign Minister Jan Petersen's visit to New York for the UN Summit and General Assembly.