Demanding Thoughts on a Quite Extraordinary Day on the Border to Russia (Commentary) Kirkenes, Norway: In the middle of the Kirkenes Conferences, bombs hit Ukraine. For 24 hours Russians, Norwegians and Finns had promoted diplomacy and dialogue on the border between Russia and Norway. We went to bed Wednesday night hoping that war would be avoidable. The very next day, we woke to a bomb shower in Europe.
The Thorvald Stoltenberg Award to Barents Games Barents Games received an honorary award for its cooperation to create attractive communities for youth in the High North.
Condemns Russia, Not the Russian People The Russian people are our neighbors, our family our friends and colleagues, says Sør-Varanger Mayor Lena Norum Bergeng (Labor).
Russian Ambassador: “Things should Work as Usual for People in the North” The Norwegian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador agree on one thing; the good cooperation and cross-border dialogue between Norway and Russia should continue despite the tense security policy situation.
In the Arctic, East and West Still Meet for Dialogue Commentary: We are bombarded daily with contradicting news messages from the Ukraine conflict. As northerners, we are pretty much the only ones to face the threat of war face to face. On Wednesday, the Kirkenes conference kicks off with a meeting between Norway and Russia on a high political level.
Norwegian Defense Chief Eirik Kristoffersen: “Dialogue May Lead to Solutions” “The government manages defense and security politics in Norway. Based on what political solutions it arrives at, I am ready to participate in the dialogues that prove possible to arrange”, says Norwegian Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen regarding a potential resuming of meetings between the top Arctic military leaders.
Lavrov at the Kirkenes Conference: Barents Cooperation Shows Progress Despite Pandemic “I hope that the Barents cooperation in the coming years will not only preserve its dynamic, but also expand when it comes to strengthening the European north, trust, stability and good neighborly relations”, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at this year’s Kirkenes Conference.
At Ten Minutes’ Distance from a «Serious and Long-Lasting Threat Against Norway» Kirkenes: The feeling of being in the middle of something that is spinning out of control is pressing on in the streets of Kirkenes. Exactly 14.8 kilometers away from the hotel at which I am staying, lies the country that is described as an efficient war machine with the will to have killing weaponry.
Norwegian MFA is Crystal Clear: Will Not Enter Into Dialogue with Russia About Norwegian Territory Russia requests a meeting with Norway to discuss Svalbard, but faces a shut door. “We will not discuss Norwegian territory with Russia”, says Norwegian MFA State Secretary Audun Halvorsen.
- Local Cooperation With Russia is Underestimated, says Ine Eriksen Søreide Kirkenes: Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide travels with Prime Minister Erna Solberg to Russia to have a political dialogue. - Meetings like that provide us with an opportunity to talk about how cooperation between our two countries works, and where it is problematic, says Eriksen Søreide to High North News.
Editorial: On the Verge of Cooperation I sit on the back bench in a conference hall in Kirkenes and wonder when the rest of the country will discover what goes on in the High North. Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide and Russian Ambassador to Norway, Teimuraz O. Ramishvili, have just wondered the same from their place on the podium.
