Busy week for Stoltenberg and Støre in New York

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (left) and Primes Minister Jens Stoltenberg congratulate each other during the resent election in Norway. Photo: Labor Party's Flick Page.

Both newly re-elected Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will be busy during the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York this week. The general debate of the 64th session of the General Assembly will be held September 23-30.  While in New York Støre will also attend a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, hosted by the Obamas.

More than 100 heads of State and Government are converging on United Nations Headquarters today Sept. 22 for a climate change summit convened by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the largest gathering ever on the issue.

Norway will be represented by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Speakers include the President of the United States, Barack Obama, China’s President Hu Jintao and Kenyan Nobel Laureate, Professor Wangari Muta Maathai. After attending the opening session, Stoltenberg will take part in a round table discussion.

While in New York Stoltenberg and 25 other world leaders will attend a dinner hosted by Ban Ki-moon. The dinner is part of a new environmental offensive tied to the climate talks at the UN. The Norwegian Prime Minister will also take part in a program arranged by UN-REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Norway launched the program during last year’s session, with a goal of establishing rules and a surveillance system to reduce deforestation as part of a new climate agreement.

Støre will on Wednesday lead a meeting of donor countries to the Palestinians, with emphasis on establishment of a Palestinian state with two years. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair were also to take part.

On Thursday the Norwegian Foreign Minister will lead the annual Trygve Lie Symposium. The purpose of this year’s symposium is to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

Read more about Norway at the UN on: Norway-un.org