The Norwegian Foreign Minister will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, and former Vice President Walter Mondale on his three day visit to the U.S. He will also give public speeches in Minneapolis and New York.
3/28/2008 :: Mr. Støre starts off his visit in Minneapolis on Wedensday, March 26, where he meets with Governor Tim Pawlenty to discuss expansion of bilateral cooperation between Minensota and Norway. Next, Mr. Støre meets with Walter Mondale, who will assume the position of Norwegian Consul General in Minnesota this summer. Mr. Støre and Mr. Mondale will spend time with leaders of the Norwegian-American community to discuss how to continue to cultivate the strong bonds that exist between Norway and the Midwest.
In a public lecture the Foreign Minister will address the relationship between "Norway and the United States in the 21st century" from 6 to 7 p.m. on March 26, in Cowles Auditorium at the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. The event is open to the public, but advance registration is requested. Please register online at Minnesota International Center or call (612) 625-4421 to attend.
On Thursday, March 27, Mr. Støre gives a keynote address titled "Global Health and the Foreign Policy Agenda" at the Conference on the State of the Planet in New York. The conference is held biannually by The Earth Institute at Columbia University. It assesses the state of global natural and human systems, to identify factors central to achieving sustainable development. Other speakers include former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, and Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of The Earth Institute and Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General. The conference is fully booked at this time.
On Friday, March 28, the Foreign Minister will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, and political advisors in Washington. He will also participate in a think-tank roundtable discussion on how the international community can build a foundation for security and development in Afghanistan, a country to which Norway contributes both militarily and with substantial development assistance.
Since 1989 Jonas Gahr Støre has held a number of senior positions with the Norwegian government. From 2003 to 2005, he was secretary-general of the Norwegian Red Cross. He has also been chief of staff at the World Health Organization. Mr. Støre became Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2005.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have met several times in Washington. Photo by Arild Strømmen/Royal Norwegian Embassy