NATO visited Barents

After the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Oslo, the Norwegian Ambassador to NATO, Kim Traavik, invited five of his fellow ambassadors on a study trip to Northern Norway. It was the German Ambassador Ulrich Brandenburg, the Rumanian Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, the British Ambassador Stewart Eldon, the Estonian Ambassador Jüri Luik and the Danish ambassador Per Poulsen-Hansen.

They started the study trip with a visit at the Norwegian Foreign Ministers Jonas Gahr Støre’s office. At the Parliamentary congress Mr. Støre emphasised the importance of NATO attention on the security issues of the High Norh. Mr. Støre believes that the biggest challenges in the north will be issues concerning climate, energy and security at sea.

During the visit at the Norwegian Barents Secretariat, the ambassadors were given a speech By Oddgeir Danielsen on logistic and security challenges connected to the increasing transport of oil and gas from Russia to the world market. Secretary General continued the session by telling the guest about the results of the 16 years work of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat, and how this has been important in establishing stability in the north.

The ambassadors continued their study trip in Tromsø with a visit at the Polar Environmental centre, and will end their travel with a meeting at the Regional HQ of North Norway and a brief by Rear Admiral Trond Grytting.