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India-Pakistan

Is Hurriyat nod to Norway mediation on Kashmir dispute sign of breakthrough?

2019-01-11

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] A day after the Prime minister of Norway Erna Solberg said her country was willing to mediate between India and Pakistain on the Kashmire issue, Hurriyat conference in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmire has welcomed the offer. "Welcome Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg’s statement with regards to the resolution of the Kashmire dispute. We also welcome their offer of mediation to facilitate peace in the region," said Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. On Monday, Prime minister of Norway while speaking at the inauguration of the new "green" Norwegian embassy in New Delhi said that her country was willing to mediate with between India and Pakistain, provided both the countries agree to such mediation. "Nobody from outside can create peace or make changes. It has to come from inside. If there is a movement between India and Pakistain for greater talks, we and other countries can say that we can help mediating if there is a possibility," she said. Solberg is on a three-day visit to India. She met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday to and discussed host of bilateral and global issues. "Norway has done a lot of work for the cause of peaceful settlements through mediation, we will intervene only if both parties, India and Pakistain, want it," she added. TALKS IN KASHMIRE Earlier in November 2018, former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik visited Kashmire and met with Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and discussed the situation in Kashmire. He also visited the capital of Pakistain-occupied Kashmire-Muzaffarabad--and met PoK President Sardar Masood Khan. While clarifying former PM’s visit, Solberg said ’his actions didn’t have Norwegian government’s blessings’. "He went as a private citizen. He has an institute for peace and security. It’s a private institute in Norway. There isn’t any government plan to start any negotiation. Our policy is clear. If we are going to help someone, they have to ask for it," she said. Despite the recent hostilities between India and Pakistain, and the border skirmish along the line of Control, the Norwegian PM said she believes that "military" solutions cannot bring "long-lasting" peace. "Personally, I don’t believe that military solutions solve problem. I believe in peaceful solutions. Participation of women and youth. You can have victory through military activity but you will always have underlying activity. It’s not just in Kashmire, but all places. We see it in Syria too. If there is a solution, it won’t be long-standing."

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Europe

Ansar al-Islam founder gets new jail term

2012-08-30

The founder of an Islamic terrorist group responsible for the murder of an ABC cameraman in Iraq in 2003 has been sentenced to an extra year in jail. Najmuddin Faraj Ahmad, also known as Mullah Krekar, is an Iraqi-born ethnic Kurd who resides in Norway. He was already facing five years in prison after being found guilty earlier this year of threatening Norwegian politicians who had called for his extradition to Iraq to face terrorism charges. Krekar was sentenced to an extra year in jail for allegedly making more threats against members of Norway's Muslim immigrant community and former prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. Krekar was the founder of Ansar al-Islam, an Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic extremist group listed as a terrorist organisation by the UN, United States, Australia, Canada and many other nations. In March 2003, an Ansar al-Islam suicide bomber killed freelance cameraman Paul Moran, who was on assignment for the ABC in northern Iraq. Five Iraqis were also killed in the suicide bombing at a checkpoint. ABC correspondent Eric Campbell was wounded in the attack.

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China-Japan-Koreas

N Korea accused of brutalising citizens

2006-10-30

North Korea has committed "crimes against humanity" against its own people according to an independent report that appeals to the UN Security Council to deal with the issue. The report describes Pyongyang's brutal treatment of its citizens, from the beatings of pregnant women to force miscarriages to the abduction, torture and execution of political prisoners. Released after North Korea's October 9 nuclear test, the report describes Pyongyang's brutal treatment of its citizens, from the beatings of pregnant women to force miscarriages to the abduction, torture and execution of political prisoners. Commissioned by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, former Czech president Vaclav Havel and former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, the paper seeks to spotlight rights abuses that have been previously reported but are often overshadowed by concern about North Korea's nuclear ambitions. "It is clear that (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il and the North Korean government are actively committing crimes against humanity," they said in a letter introducing the report, which was prepared by the nonprofit, independent US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and by the DLA Piper law firm. "We strongly urge the UN Security Council to take up the situation of North Korea. Protecting the people of North Korea requires nothing less," they added. An official at the North Korean mission to the United Nations declined comment on the report and repeated North Korea's position that it does not violate human rights. Foreign policy analysts praised the report for highlighting an issue that often gets short shrift amid concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs but they said the chances of the Security Council acting on it were slim. Among other reasons, they noted the council has already passed two resolutions imposing sanctions on North Korea in the last four months, the first following its July 5 ballistic missile tests and the second after this month's nuclear test.

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Africa Horn

Somalis looking into rumors US financing militias

2006-05-02

Somali leaders expressed concern at reports that Washington is financing a group of powerful Mogadishu warlords who have styled themselves as an anti-terrorism coalition. The warlords have been involved in several bouts of fighting with militia linked to Islamic leaders. About 100 people have been killed in the violence, the worst in Mogadishu in years. The perception of US involvement has given rise to fears that Mogadishu's militia battles are shifting from the commercial to the ideological, and creating a new arena for Islamic militants to fight what they call Washington's war on Islam. The US has been rumoured to have paid the coalition in exchange for help tracking down al-Qaeda militants who move freely in Somalia. "We have no official communication but these rumours are everywhere," Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Gedi said. The US has never directly confirmed or denied suggestions that it backed warlords. "We do not expect the American government to just pump dollars to Somali people to create problems. They are our friends and we expect friendship from them," Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan added. We tried friendship once, remember? The two leaders were speaking in Baidoa after meeting with Kjell Magne Bondevik, the UN Special Humanitarian Envoy for the region, who was assessing the effects of drought. Both Somali leaders, who recently patched up a rift that paralysed their interim government for a year, expressed hope they will soon be able to move to Mogadishu from a temporary base in Baidoa. But the renewed fighting has complicated the prospect by raising security concerns and threatening the delicate reconciliation between the prime minister and parliament speaker. The interim government two weeks ago voted to make Baidoa its new seat, after more than 1000 militiamen were persuaded to move out to make it secure. It is the government's second base inside Somalia after it first moved back home to Jowhar, north of Mogadishu, last year. Until then, the fledgling administration had not left neighbouring Kenya, where it was formed in late 2004 after two years of peace talks. Bondevik said many still see Somalia as a synonym for "chaos and war and lack of security. I urge you to create a new image of responsible and responsive parliament and government that cares for its people." The government's new-found unity and reconciliation efforts are moving toward that end, Hassan said. "You see that we are standing side by side."

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Africa Horn

Eritrea food aid 'may be rotting'

2006-04-25

Food aid donated to drought-hit Eritrea may be rotting in warehouses, diplomats and aid officials have warned. President Isaias Afewerki insists Eritrea is self-reliant. He has put restrictions on handouts and last month expelled at least three aid agencies. Last September, the number of people receiving free food was cut by 94% to 72,000 out of a population of 3.6m. After a bad harvest, it was estimated in 2005 that at least one in three Eritreans needed food aid. "Donors are concerned about the food sent since 2005, which is still in government warehouses, with the obvious risk of deterioration. We don't want to see 100,000 tonnes of food aid rot," one aid official said. The UN special humanitarian envoy for the Horn of Africa is visiting Eritrea next week. Kjell Magne Bondevik is expected to raise the international community's concerns when he meets officials in the capital, Asmara. President Afewerki has accused the UN of lying about Eritrea's food situation. The country has gradually reduced its relations with the world community. Last year, Eritrea turned down a crop assessment mission from the UN's agencies. The BBC's Ed Harris in the capital, Asmara, says anecdotal reports say some people are already moving around or out of the country in search of food, and some hospitals are struggling to cope with malnutrition.

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Europe

Norway Reacts Against Cartoon Provocation

2006-01-12

Via Western Resistance The dust has yet to settle from the conflict caused by the publication of cartoons insulting to the Prophet Mohammed in the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten, and a newspaper in Norway publishes the caricatures as well. The weekly Magazinet, Kudos to Magazinet which focuses on Christianity in general, on publishing the mentioned caricatures experienced a backlash by the Church Assistance Organization in the country. Other newspapers in Norway interpreted the publication as a "paradox" since the paper, as an advocate of Christian values, attacked the holy values of Islam. Magazinet Editor in Chief Vebjorn Solbekk said they did not intend to insult Muslims, but wanted to point out a ”secret erosion" in freedom of expression that has been going on for a while. The Norwegian paper published the 12 caricatures named "Faces of Mohammed" that the Danish paper published on September 30, and former Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik fiercely reacted against Magazinet. Bondevik said in the Norwegian capital Oslo during an opening ceremony for a human rights center that they, as the believers of a faith, are perfectly aware of what belief means for others. Therefore, one should not fault in respect for the beliefs of others. Religion plays a key role in solving intersociety problems; freedom of expression should definitely exists, but respect for the beliefs of others should also exist. Rest at link.

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Europe

Leftists set to win Norway polls

2005-09-13

Norway's left-leaning opposition was on course for an absolute majority in Monday's parliamentary elections, which would allow it to squeeze the ruling centre-right coalition out of power. After 80.7% of the votes had been counted, the opposition parties were projected to win a combined 88 of the 169 seats in parliament, against 81 seats for Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and his allies. The leftist coalition, comprising Labour, the Socialist Left Party and the agrarian Centre Party, thereby appeared to have won the absolute majority they have said they needed to form a new government. "We promised an absolute majority and that's what we're going to give the country," Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg told reporters, adding however that he was still waiting for the final results before claiming victory.

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Europe

IKEA goes dhimmi

2005-03-10

OSLO, Norway (Reuters) - Dhimmi Swedish home furnishings giant IKEA is guilty of sex discrimination by showing only men putting together furniture in its instruction manuals, Norway's prime minister says. IKEA, which has more than 200 stores in 32 nations and features Halal cuisine in all company cafeterias , fears it might offend Muslims by depicting women assembling everything from cupboards to beds. Someone should tell them it's OK if they're wearing a birka. Its manuals show only men or cartoon figures whose sex is unclear Sounds very European. No wonder they're having so much trouble reproducing.. "This isn't good enough," Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik was quoted Thursday as telling the daily Verdens Gang. "It's important to promote attitudes for sexual equality, not least in Muslim nations." This guy is going to have a Jihadi hit squad on him faster than you can say Dutch Parliamentarian "They should change this," s/he said. "There's no justification for it." IKEA stores are visited by 365 million people a year around the world. Many products have to be assembled by the buyer -- the "flat pack" concept saves the company huge amounts in transport, storage and sales space. Bondevik, whose sex could not be detemined, added: "I myself have great problems with screwing together such furniture." Shakes head, too easy. Leave something for commenters. Verdens Gang quoted an IKEA spokeswoman as saying: "We have to take account of cultural factors. In Muslim countries it's problematic problematic? How about forbidden? to use women in instruction manuals." IKEA was not immediately available for comment.

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Europe

Most Imams boycotted Muslim anti-violence protest march

2004-12-05

Most of Norway's top politicians, but very few Imams participated in Saturday's Muslim torchlight protest march in Oslo against violence and terrorism. Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik was disappointed over the fact that most Imams boycotted the protest march. - They say they are against violence and murders. Why don't they join us here in this protest, Bondevik said to NRK during the march. A group of Muslim leaders in Norway had wanted to disassociate themselves from violence and terrorism, and had organized the torchlight march through downtown Oslo to mark their stand. However, another group had opposed the march. The background for the march is a statement by the spokesman for the Islamic Council In Norway, Zahid Mukhtar, who earlier commented on the murder of the Ducth film maker Theo van Gogh. Mukhtar said on a nationwide TV discussion program that he could understand that Muslims had been provoced by van Gogh's latest film, and that he could understand why someone murdered him. -We object to the murder and violence under any circumstance. Mukhtar's statements have created an ambiguity which we cannot afford, says Khalid Mahmood, City Council representative for the Oslo Labour Party. However, on Saturday morning Aftenposten reported that central Imams from several Oslo's mosques do not wish to take part in the march. -I react to the fact that Muslims continuously have to prove that we are against violence by participating in protest marches. We feel we are being forced to take part, says Imran Mushtaq, deputy leader of the Islamic Council of Norway, to Aftenposten. He has therefore launched a campaign encouraging people to sign a petition titled "Muslims in Norway are of course opposed to all violence and criminal acts". -This campaign is an alternative to the torchligh parade, Mushtaq says. At the same time he accused Khalid Mahmood of creating a conflict in the Muslim community.

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Europe

Muslims march to protest terrorism

2004-12-04

Muslims in Norway were organizing a torchlit parade through downtown Oslo this weekend, to decry violence and terrorism and distance themselves from Islamic fundamentalism. Top Norwegian political leaders, including the prime minister, were joining in. Good idea. But I'd bet the participants are mostly Kurds... NRK journalist Norman Mubashir has played a key role in organizing Saturday's march, aimed at protesting violence and terrorism. March organizers were hoping for a big turnout, and welcomed the participation of non-Muslims as well. The leaders of Norway's major political parties and top government leaders said they would join the march and several were invited to speak during Saturday's event. The march was to begin at the square in front of Oslo's central train station at 4:30pm, and proceed up Karl Johans Gate to the Parliament. Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik was among those scheduled to speak to the crowd, along with Justice Minister Odd Einar Dørum, Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) journalist Norman Mubashir and Labour Party leader Jens Stoltenberg. A key group of local Muslim religious leaders said Friday they were encouraging all Muslims to participate. The more liberal among them already have protested violence, terror and killings in the name of religion. And the Bad Guyz among them haven't. If the Bad Guyz are there, it'll be to bump somebody off... The march, initiated by NRK's Mubashir, comes largely in response to the recent killing of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Muslim extremist. Van Gogh's murder struck a chord all over Europe, and led to a TV debate in Norway in which the spokesman for Norway's Islamic Council raised doubts about how many Muslims opposed the killing. Another Muslim leader, Awais Mushtaq, later said he understood why an Islamic fundamentalist carried it out. Any sign of Mullah Krekar? No? Fancy that...

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Europe

More reaction to the US election

2004-11-08

Results of the US election may end up pushing Norway into the European Union, suggest political analysts, and even Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik is listening. He's long opposed EU membership, but sees a need for more international cooperation. This was the political cartoon in newspaper Aftenposten after it emerged that George W Bush would be the US president for another four years. The text reads: "...and now I'd like to send a little greeting to all my friends in Europe." In a meeting with Crown Prince Haakon in the Prime Minister's office this week, Bondevik acknowledged that talks touched on what four more years of George W Bush as president can mean. Bondevik, who's already called for the Bush Administration to show more international cooperation, noted that he worries nonetheless that trans-Atlantic ties may be weakened. Many, he suggested, may see a need for Norway to engage in stronger foreign policy cooperation with the European Union, also in security matters. That, Bondevik acknowledged, may influence his own view on the EU. Norwegians have narrowly turned down EU membership, first in a referendum in 1972 and against in 1994. But the issue keeps coming up, and recent polls have showed Norwegians favoring EU membership.

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-Short Attention Span Theater-

Slick Willy: AIDS trumps terror

2003-11-04

I d’no where this goes
 It's in the right place... Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said Tuesday AIDS should be considered a security issue, with the disease affecting more people in the world than terrorism. "We should continue to fight terror, but we have to realize that the AIDS issue is also a security issue," Clinton told reporters after talks with Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik in Oslo. "It’s a humanitarian issue, but it’s a security issue," he said, warning AIDS fueled poverty and desperation. I don’t see you encouraging the ways that really work. Clinton was in Norway to seek support for a campaign against AIDS. An estimated 42 million people worldwide suffer from HIV or AIDS, most of them in Africa. Asked whether AIDS was a bigger threat to the world than terrorism, Clinton said: "Right now (AIDS) affects more people, but I wouldn’t say that. What I think is that we can’t think about one to the exclusion of the other." "Oh, I tried, but there was just enough terrorism to keep it in my mind." Clinton’s foundation has been heading work to slash the cost of AIDS treatment in African and Caribbean nations. al-Reuters

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