Mr Mondale’s personality, unique experience and roots in the Norwegian-American community will help to further develop the longstanding and important relations and shared interests between Norway and the Midwest,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs will, together with Mr. Mondale, establish the practical framework for his tasks and the continued work to set up the Honorary Consulate General in Minneapolis so that it is able to maintain and further develop the important ties between Norway and the Midwest.
“With a new organisation, and Walter Mondale as Honorary Consul General, the Consulate General will facilitate the important research, education and business cooperation between Norway and the Midwest. I am confident that Mr Mondale, with his ties to Norway and broad background, will promote our shared Norwegian-American history and culture in the Midwest,” said Mr. Støre.
Walter Mondale (80) was US Vice President from 1977 to 1981, and presidential candidate for the Democrats in 1984. He was US Ambassador to Japan from 1993 to 1996. From 1964 to 1976, he represented Minnesota in the Senate. He has also been Attorney General of the state of Minnesota. He has close ties to Norway. His family originally comes from Mundal on the west coast of Norway. He has, for many years, been a member of the Executive Committee of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, which holds annual conferences with the support of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. He has a law degree and has worked as a lawyer for many years. Mr Mondale is married, has three grown-up children and is living in Minneapolis.