The presentation outlined the
interests and policies of Norway in the region of the Barents Sea, and the
Arctic Sea, also known as the High North. In the beginning of the presentation,
Minister Støre described the factors that have influenced the development of
Norway's policy in the High North since 2005, namely climate change and natural
resources and the Russian neighborhood. The temperature in the High North is
rising faster than in other parts of the world, which brings about the prospects
for conducting research on climate change, an opportunity for establishing a
new transportation route with Asia, as well as access to fishstocks, seafood,
and minerals. The Minister underlined that the debate on the "race"
between the states situated in the Arctic region is not justified, as all of
the countries obey international law, and base their claims on the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the same time, it remains a challenge to
develop the High North resources in a sustainable manner.
With regard to climate change,
Minister Støre stressed the role of Norway as a global energy producer, both
from conventional, and from renewable energy sources. It is the second world
exporter of gas, and the largest producer of
electricity from hydropower, in terms of share. He stressed, that the
country is willing to deploy the pro-environmental technologies in the energy
sector. It has transposed the climate-change - relevant EU directives to the
national law, the companies operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf are
obliged to pay CO2 tax, and the Carbon Capture and Storage Test Center has
recently been opened in Mongstad on 7 May. Moreover, the system of Green
Certificates has jointly been operated with Sweden since January.
With reference to natural resources, on behalf of
the Government of Norway, Minister Støre listed seven visions for the future of
the High North. These include: ensuring safety and avoiding conflict, management
of transportation routes to Asia, cooperation in crisis management, sustainable
development, establishing a climate change research center, the development of
minerals, and the creation of a new energy region in Europe. For this latter purpose,
Norway has recently amended the Integrated Management Plan from 2007, and intensified
exploration for new hydrocarbon fields in the Barents Sea region, where the
Goljat and Snøhvit platforms are already operating. Additionally, Norway
conducts joint research projects with Russia on environment, health and safety.
With respect to Russia, with
the end of the Cold War, Norway has aimed at a normalization of the relations.
The recent expression of this goal took a form of signing and ratification of the
Treaty concerning Maritime
Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean between
the countries. Also, according to the agreement between Statoil and Rosneft from May
2012, the companies will jointly conduct exploration of the Russian Perseyevsky field in the High North. The countries successfully co-operate on the division of the
fishing quotas, and the cod fishing areas.
Minister Støre also emphasized the disproportion of
the potentials between the countries, and a will to develop people to people
contacts, which is likely to enhance after the liberalization of the visa
regime in the areas adjacent to the border. When asked about the post-election statement
of President Putin about the militarization of the Arctic region, the Minister
diplomatically replied that he does not oppose to the modernization of armaments,
which Norway is also conducting.
The Polish-Norwegian cooperation was also a subject of the Minister’s
presentation. From the perspective of Norway, gas and oil demand in Europe will
rise. Norway does not oppose to the development of the shale gas terminal in
Poland, and is aware that the development of the sector can contribute to an
increase in the role of gas as an energy source in the EU. The Minister
expressed hope that the development will be conducted in accordance with the
best practices, that are already identified. Norway also sees Poland as a
potential market for green technologies, including CCS. Both countries support
energy efficiency. When asked about the possibilities for the expansion of Norwegian
terminals for the export of LNG, for which Poland could become the customer,
Minister Støre underlined greater likelihood for the pipeline transportation of
gas to Poland, with the development of gas interconnectors. It is in this way,
that Norwegian gas reaches the Czech Republic market.
During the presentation, the Minister underlined
the growing political and economic co-operation between Poland and Norway, including
the forum of NATO, projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants, and through
the migration flows, that have significantly increased after 2004. The plans of
a cooperation between PISM and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
(NUPI) is an element of collaboration in the field of research.
By Lidia Puka
Photos by Tadeusz Joniewicz
Jonas Gahr Støre is Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway. He has a degree in political science from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, and has held a teaching position at Harvard Law School. His first introduction into
public life was as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, followed by a
three year tenure as Director-General of the Prime Minister’s
International Department. In 1998, Mr. Støre was appointed Ambassador of
Norway’s Permanent Mission at the United Nations in Geneva, but served only briefly as he was asked
by former Prime Minister of Norway and then Secretary-General of the
World Health Organization, Gro Harlem Brundtland, to become her Chief of
Staff. In 2005, Mr. Støre became Minister of Foreign Affairs in Prime Minister
Jens Stoltenberg’s government, following three years as
Secretary-General of the Norwegian Red Cross. Mr. Støre belongs to the Norwegian Labour Party.
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