Press Releases

The Government is to increase its support to the victims of the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa to NOK 620 million.

“With her broad experience of development issues and her insight into Sudan and the peace process, she is the right person to lead the UN’s efforts to help resolve the major challenges facing South Sudan in the time ahead,” said Mr Støre.

“The drought in the Horn of Africa is critical and gives cause for serious concern. The extent of the crisis will be worse than first assumed. We have therefore decided to increase Norway’s contribution by NOK 30 million, bringing the total up to NOK 263 million. We will do our part, but the whole international community must respond rapidly in order to prevent this crisis becoming even worse,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide NOK 50 million in emergency relief to Libya. “The acute humanitarian crisis in Libya and on the Tunisian-Libyan border is extremely serious. It is essential that the international community takes responsibility for helping those who are in need of assistance and protection,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The UN General Assembly has suspended Libya from the UN Human Rights Council in response to the Libyan authorities’ gross and systematic human rights violations against the country’s own population.

The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution imposing targeted sanctions on the Libyan regime and has referred the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation. “This is an appropriate and important step in response to the unacceptable situation in Libya,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“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.

The people of South Sudan have overwhelmingly voted for independence, with 98.83% in favour of a split. “Norway intends to formally recognise South Sudan as a sovereign, independent state in July 2011,” said Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

On 20 January, the Government is launching a new plan for efforts in the area of women, peace and security. The purpose of the plan is to promote women’s participation and enhance the protection of women in conflict-affected countries.

“It has been a pleasure to witness the peaceful conduct of the referendum on the future status of Southern Sudan. This was a complicated process, which has been prepared and carried out in a very short space of time,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.