Condoleezza Rice & Norway FM Jonas Gahr Stoere

Remarks Before Meeting With Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Jonas Gahr Stoere

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC
June 15, 2006

SECRETARY RICE: I would like to welcome my colleague Foreign Minister Stoere. We've met on a number of occasions. At NATO we've met. We recently attended a very good and long dinner discussion in which we talked about issues of common concern. We, of course, share values with Norway and we have been good partners not just in European affairs, but in the Middle East and in Africa. I look forward to talking with you about the many issues that we have on our agenda.

FOREIGN MINISTER STOERE: Well, I'm very pleased to be here and to meet with my colleague and representative of our closest ally. It's important for Norway to be able to exchange views on our "near abroad", how we see things change, and also to discuss the many issues of common interest. And as the Secretary said, where we cooperate very closely -- more closely than many think --in other regions is why I appreciate to have this opportunity during this day, and welcome.

SECRETARY RICE: Welcome.

PRIME MINISTER STOERE: Thank you.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, you referred to (inaudible).

SECRETARY RICE: I'll get back to you, Anne. You're right; people don't have a sense of the breadth of our cooperation. For instance, Norway has been a lead country in working on the problem of Somalia, and we will have a chance to discuss that very difficult issue. Norway has been very involved in trying to help the Palestinian people through our aid efforts and so we'll also have a chance to discuss that. So we have many, many issues of common concern. Thank you.

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Released on June 15, 2006

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