Main Story, April 28, 2004

Norway Will Withdraw
Troops From Iraq

Norway Will Withdraw Troops From Iraq

Norway Will Withdraw
Troops From Iraq

Issue 17, April 28, 2004:

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Issue 17, April 28, 2004:

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Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Petersen promised that Norwegian soldiers would return from Iraq in two and a half months.

By JUDITH GABRIEL VINJE
Los Angeles

Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Petersen promised that Norwegian soldiers would return from Iraq in two and a half months. By JUDITH GABRIEL VINJE Los Angeles

Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Petersen promised that Norwegian soldiers would return from Iraq in two and a half months.

By JUDITH GABRIEL VINJE
Los Angeles

Norway Will Withdraw
Troops From Iraq

Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Petersen promised that Norwegian soldiers would return from Iraq in two and a half months.

By JUDITH GABRIEL VINJE
Los Angeles

Petersen talked up peace and international cooperation in a whirlwind bicoastal visit to the U.S. during a week of renewed bloodshed in the Middle East.

Petersen stressed that Norway’s role in Iraq was limited to a U.N.-mandated humanitarian operation that consisted of peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts in an address to the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles.

A controversy had flared earlier about whether Norway was part of the U.S.-led coalition, or in Iraq for an exclusively humanitarian role.

In any case, a majority of Norwegians want their soldiers to come back home. A recent poll indicated that more than half of Norwegians want the government to repatriate the 150 Norwegian soldiers, who are stationed near Basra under British command, but earlier government statements were vague about how long they would remain.

In Los Angeles on Thursday, however, Petersen told Norway Times that the country’s role in Iraq was now changing, citing more pressing priorities for the small Nordic nation, such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Norwegian troops will not be staying in Iraq for much longer.
"We now have 150 Norwegian troops in Basra, a small group focusing on humanitarian work, like clearing explosives, bridge building," Petersen said. He himself had visited the troops at the end of March.

Petersen referred to the target date for the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty when asked for a specific timetable for the Norwegian soldiers’ return.

Focus on Afghanistan
He told Norway Times that, "They will remain in Iraq until the end of the first year, around the first of July; that has been the plan from the start. After the first of July, we will probably have some military engagement in Iraq, but on a very minor scale because we are a little bit stretched now and we need to focus on Afghanistan. But we will have reconstruction, and we will commit funds to rebuilding Iraq."

Responding to the recent escalation of events in Iraq, with several U.S. military fatalities in the siege of Falluja, the Foreign Minister told the World Affairs Council audience that, "The events over the last days clearly have displayed the difficulties facing the coalition forces in Iraq. There is, however, no alternative to continue working for a secure and democratic Iraq. Norway is currently participating in the stabilization force."

"Only the U.N. can give the political process the necessary legitimacy," Petersen said, stressing that Norway believes the U.N. should also play a more prominent role in Iraq.
Norway, meanwhile, will be turning its energies elsewhere. Petersen told the World Affairs Council that Norway "has recently upgraded Afghanistan’s status to be one of our designated partner countries in development cooperation. This means an increase in long-term development assistance to the country. Our political commitment to Afghanistan clearly is for the long haul."

Norway’s role in Afghanistan is part of NATO-led peacekeeping missions there. As for the thorny international run-up to Baghdad, Petersen told the Los Angeles audience, which included several leaders of the Norwegian-American community and consular officials, that disagreements over the U.S. entry into the war with Iraq are now in the past and Norway is committed to international cooperation.

"Transatlantic tensions are nothing new; we’ve seen them before," he said.

Divergent Attitudes
"The differences of opinion across the Atlantic are greater in number than before, and they go deeper. And they reflect very divergent attitudes to international cooperation. However, the differences over Iraq between members of the Western Alliance are now largely behind us. I am confident that the NATO summit in June in Istanbul will confirm the strength of our transatlantic ties."

Turning to other Middle East issues, such as President Bush’s recent support of Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, Petersen expressed concern. "In view of the recent developments in the Middle East there is an urgent need for concerted action. The international community must make use of all the instruments at its disposal to support the peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians. It now remains to be seen how the Israeli initiative to withdraw from Gaza will affect the situation. This initiative should be seen as a part of President Bush’s two-state vision, and be based on the Road Map. The Palestinians will have to be brought in as real partners."

Petersen’s U.S. visit came at a time of increased tensions in the region. Many observers noted that in all his appearances the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs was the consummate diplomat, making his positions known, but within a framework of cooperation and shared ties.
Besides his U.N.-centered New York appearances, he spoke along the West Coast during the week, addressing the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle and at the Stanford University Institute for International Studies, as well as in Los Angeles.

Publisher: Marianne O. Jawanda • Editor-in-Chief: Erik Modal • Managing Editor: Vigdis Aure Modal
• Office Manager: Elin Strong • Copy Editor: Michelle Ferguson

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