Monday will be a big day at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Monday, the flags will be raised in New York for five new UN Security Council members – including Norway.
Monday, January 4, is the first working day after the New Year.
The flags will be raised then despite the fact that Norway formally took a seat on the Security Council on January 1.
Norway’s battle to secure the seat lasted 13 years and had a price tag of at least NOK 34 million.
In addition to Norway, India, Ireland, Kenya, and Mexico have also been selected as new members.
“Unique opportunity”
The last time Norway sat on the Security Council, in 2001-2002, the 9/11 attacks in the United States cast a heavy shadow over the Council’s work.
This time too, there are great challenges ahead, including the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.
At the same time, a seat on the UN Security Council provides a unique opportunity to promote Norwegian interests and values, Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) told news bureau NTB when the decision became known.
Norway can use its diplomatic experience to build bridges and find solutions, the Prime Minister noted.
Among the issues that the Norwegian government will focus on, the following will be of special importance:
- Protection of civilians in war.
- The protection of children and people exposed to sexual and gender-based violence.
- Women’s participation in peace and security work.
Climate and security
Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) will also put climate-related security threats on the agenda.
“Climate and conflict are linked, and climate change often exacerbates underlying conflicts,” Eriksen Søreide said in a statement to the Norwegian parliament (Storting) in December.
“We want to help ensure that fact-based information on how climate change is relevant to conflict in individual countries becomes part of the premise for the Council’s decisions,” she said, pointing out that not all Council members recognize the connection between climate and security.
Norway’s UN Ambassador Mona Juul will represent Norway in the Security Council.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
This is great to see. 🙂
Hopefully, Norway can serve as a fair-minded, stabilizing, restraining UNSC member. Disturbingly, Biden’s intended international relations appointments all seem to be pro-war “liberal interventionists” and neoconservatives (who are not at all conservative).