Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide met with the American Jewish Committee and B’nai B’rith at the Norwegian consulate in New York on Sept. 23. It has become customary for Norwegian Foreign Ministers to meet with these two organizations during the opening of the United Nations General Assembly every year, and it is viewed as part of the wider dialogue Norway has with various groups about the Middle East.
The delegation showed particular interest in Norway’s stand on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Eide discussed the upcoming Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting.
He also shared his analysis of the situation in the region and underlined that the current environment, 20 years after the Oslo agreement was signed, is one in which progress in the peace process should be possible.
This will not be an easy task, but there are three factors in favor of new developments:
1) Peace negotiations have started.
2) The parties involved realize that the staus quo is not sustainable.
3) The parties involved have, to a high degree, a similar analysis of what the regional challenges consist of.
Representatives of both organizations expressed gratitude for Norway’s efforts and constructive role in the conflict.
Foreign Minister Eide also took time to answer questions relating to Norway’s stance on Iran and the position of Israel in the UN.
Want to know what the Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said at the AHLC meeting? Read his speech here.