Middle East

Monday, the UNESCO General Conferance admitted Palestine as a Member of the Organisation. Norway voted for Palestinian membership. Read more

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “I welcome the agreement between Hamas and Israel on the release of Gilad Shalit and exchange of prisoners. Norway’s position all along has been that Shalit’s imprisonment was unacceptable, and we have been among the countries actively working for his release.” Read more

The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for assistance to the Palestinians (AHLC) the Palestinian Authority for its implementation of the government programme over the last three years, and confirmed that it would continue to provide support to complete institution building and ensure a sustainable Palestinian economy. Chair of the AHLC, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “W... Read more

The question of Palestinian statehood will be a hot topic at the UN later this month. Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre deals with this issue in an opinion article published in two Norwegian newspapers, Bergens Tidende and Stavanger Aftenblad, on September 1st, 2011. Read more

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre said, “We condemn the Syrian authorities’ repeated attacks on civilians. I am shocked at the army crackdown in several Syrian towns and cities on Sunday. The killing of civilians who are asking for reform is indefensible.” Read more

“The use of military force against the country’s own population is entirely unacceptable. We strongly condemn the Libyan authorities’ ruthless use of violence against the country’s civilian population,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

“We condemn the use of violence in the streets of Cairo. The clashes in Egypt must not be used as a pretext for cracking down on the reform movement and impede an orderly transition to democratic rule. The Egyptians’ right to freedom of expression and the media’s right to report freely must be respected,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

The international donor group in support of the Palestinians (AHLC) on Tuesday reconfirmed its support for the Palestinian government program that aims to establish a Palestinian state by August 2011. Read more

The General Assembly adopted Friday 26 February a new follow-up resolution on the Goldstone report with broad support. 98 countries voted in favor, 31 abstained and 7 voted against. Norway voted in favor of the resolution which is a modified version of the GA 64/10 resolution adopted on 5 November 2009. Read more

The significance of the Goldstone report goes far beyond the Gaza conflict. It’s about our responsibility to protect vulnerable groups in armed conflict. That was Ambassador Morten Wetland’s main message when he highlighted the Goldstone report in his statement to the General Assembly on Wednesday 4 November. Read more

The donor group for the Palestinian Authority (AHLC) welcomes the political program of the Palestinian government for establishing a Palestinian state within the next two years. Read more

On 22 September, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will chair a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) to provide the principal policy-level coordination for the aid effort to the Palestinian people. Read more

The General Assembly will meet to commemorate the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which was established 60 years ago. The UNRWA provides education, healthcare, social services and emergency aid to over 4.6 million refugees. See the UNRWA website for further details. Read more

At this annual meeting of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, world leaders will meet to discuss political and financial support for the Palestinian territories. Chaired by the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more