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→External links: "Opening for a new evaluation in Stortinget. MP ... considering requesting parliament's ''utredningsseksjon'' to evaluate if Støre has a conflict of interest (''habilitetsvurdering'' )"
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* [http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud.html?id=833 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
* [http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud.html?id=833 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lxyi_3CGrk Jonas Gahr Støre: In defense of dialogue] [[TED (conference)|TED]]-talk
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lxyi_3CGrk Jonas Gahr Støre: In defense of dialogue] [[TED (conference)|TED]]-talk

The Tschudi affair:
*[http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/04/14/nyheter/store/tschudi/politikk/arbeiderpartiet/21104992/ "Opening for a new evaluation in Stortinget. MP Anders Anundsen (Frp) is considering requesting parliament's ''utredningsseksjon'' to evaluate if Støre has a conflict of interest (''habilitetsvurdering'' )"]
*http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/04/14/nyheter/politikk/innenriks/regjeringen/arbeiderpartiet/21106397/
*http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/04/14/nyheter/plastikkirurgi/innenriks/breivik/anders_behring_breivik/21102430/
*http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/04/14/nyheter/felix_tschudi/politikk/jonas_gahr_st/innenriks/21106641/
*http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/troms_og_finnmark/1.8068113


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Revision as of 15:05, 14 April 2012

Jonas Gahr Støre
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 October 2005
MonarchHarald V
Prime MinisterJens Stoltenberg
Preceded byJan Petersen
Personal details
Born (1960-08-25) 25 August 1960 (age 64)
Oslo, Norway
Political partyNorwegian Labour Party
RelationsMarit Slagsvold
ChildrenThree
Residence(s)Oslo, Norway
Alma materParis Institute of Political Studies
OccupationElected MP in the Storting 2009 -
WebsiteGovernment page

Jonas Gahr Støre (born 25 August 1960 in Oslo) is the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, having been appointed to Jens Stoltenberg's second cabinet on 17 October 2005. He represents the Norwegian Labour Party.

Personal life

Støre is the son of ship-owner Ulf Jonas Støre and Unni Gahr. He attended Berg School in Oslo followed by naval officer training at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy. He later studied political science at the Sciences Po in Paris. He enrolled as a PhD student at the London School of Economics, but withdrew after a few weeks, as he decided not to pursue an academic career.

He started his professional career as a teaching fellow in the Harvard Negotiation Project at Harvard Law School in 1986. This was followed by a position as researcher at the Norwegian School of Management (1986–1989) and special adviser at the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister from 1989 to 1995. He was Director General for International Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister from 1995 to 1998, and he subsequently held the position of ambassador in the Norwegian Delegation to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

His first major international position was as Executive Director (Chief of Staff) in the World Health Organization under the leadership of Gro Harlem Brundtland. This was followed by a year as State Secretary and Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in the first cabinet Stoltenberg from 2000 to 2001. Before taking up the position as Foreign Minister he was Executive Chairman of the think tank ECON Analyse from 2002 to 2003 and Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross from 2003 to 2005.

Political career

In 1988, he was a member of Høyre and applied for a job as a political advisor for Høyre.[4] He was offered the job, but did not take it.[5]

In 1989 he became spesialrådgiver på Statsministerens kontor. He eventually became "the right hand"[6] of Gro Harlem Brundtland, and became a member of the Labour Party in 1995.

In 2005, Støre was appointed Foreign Minister. Numerous polls have shown that Støre is the most popular member of the current government, although political scientist Frank Aarebrot has said that it isn't really hard for Foreign Ministers in general to win popularity surveys.[7] In the 2009 General Election in Norway, Støre was elected to the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget), representing Oslo. Støre is widely considered a potential future Prime Minister.[8][9]

Støre is a strong supporter of a multicultural Norway. He coined the expression "the new We" to describe this, and states as a goal a society where we can "live side by side with hijab and bikini, and celebrate Christmas and Id". He is also a multi-millionaire, with a fortune of around 40 million NOK (US$6,800,000) in 2008.[10][11][12]

Although generally popular in Norway,[8] the leadership style of Jonas Gahr Støre has been criticized as being arrogant and superior. In the 2010 United States diplomatic cables leak internal assessments of Støre by American diplomats claimed that he considers himself as morally superior and smarter than other people.[13] In connection with 2012 criticism of conflict of interest dealings in his office as foreign minister professor Petter Gottschalk compared him to the Sun King for appearing to equate his own person with the foreign ministry and he also reiterated the characteristics from the 2010 diplomat leaks.[14][9]

Conflict-of-interest accusations

On 20 March 2012 Støre became the focus of widespread media scrutiny when the newspaper Dagbladet uncovered[15] that the foundation of a close friend since childhood, billionaire Felix Tschudi,[16] had received expedited grants from the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry formally approved the application on 7 November 2008, however, Jonas Gahr Støre made the announcement in a lecture on 14 October, only four days following the submission of the application on the preceding Friday.[15] The ministry would match[17] the investments from Tschudi's own Tschudi Shipping Company AS (TCH) with NOK 6 million for the establishment of Centre for High North Logistics (CHNL). The initiative to the 5-year project, which is stipulated to end in 2013,[18] had been made by Felix Tschudi, and Tschudi was also chairman of the board of the foundation. The foundation itself was established in 2009.[19] The first payment, 3/4 of the total, was made in 2008 with the rest paid out in 2011.[15] TSC has made big investments in the High North region in harbor facilities and shipping.[20] In the midst of the public discussion over this case information emerged that the accounting firm of Ernst & Young had done a review of the organizing of the foundation in 2010 and among its conclusions stated that it "could possibly be perceived to have as one aim economical benefit for others, among whom would be the groups that are behind the foundation (Tschudi Shipping)". Furthermore the report said that the research performed by the foundation could be deemed as "giving economical benefit to the participants, including Tschudi Shipping, in connection with the development of direct solutions for increased shipping activity with ensuing rise in profit".[21][20] A copy of the report from Ernst & Young was also sent to the foreign ministry.[20] On 30 March 2012 the newspaper Verdens Gang announced that important documents related to the foreign ministry's processing of Tschudi's application were missing, and that the ministry, apparently in violation of both the Archives Act and the Freedom of information Act had decided not to archive one of the documents. In this document, a reply to the Norwegian Shipowners' Association—which served as a conduit for Tschudi's application—three weeks before the application is submitted, the ministry gives advice on how to formulate the application and even makes concrete suggestions for changes in the draft text which they are reviewing.[22] The same day TV 2 told that the public interest research which the CHNL foundation was to conduct in reality turned out to be research on how Tschudi could transport iron ore from his own mine to China.[23]

The would-be scandal was preceded by the conflict-of-interest based scandal only a few weeks prior, of Socialist Left Party cabinet member Audun Lysbakken who had to resign following revelations that an expedited grant had been given by his ministry to a group closely associated with his own party. It has also become clear that the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs will examine the case as part of a sweeping audit of grants from all the ministries following the Lysbakken affair.[19] Several leading parliamentarians have criticized Støre for not requesting a formal assessment of whether he had a conflict of interest in the case, and the newspaper Dagbladet in an editorial even has asserted the Støre case to be more grave than the Lysbakken case.[24] All questions of a possible conflict of interest have been cursorily rejected by Støre himself though, and his rejection also of any criticism that at least he should have requested a professional assessment of his impartiality has sharpened the criticism from a consensus of politicians and legal scholars alike.[25][26][27] Guro Slettemark, the secretary general of the Norwegian chapter of Transparency International has commented on this case and other contemporaneous cases involving other Norwegian ministers, Audun Lysbakken, Tora Aasland, Bjarne Håkon Hanssen and Liv Signe Navarsete, that in other countries these improprieties would usually be labeled corruption and they contribute to undermine the popular trust in politicians and even in democracy.[28] On 10 April Dagbladet published the results of an independent impartiality assessment of Støre in the matter of the dealings with Tschudi's foundation, commissioned by the newspaper itself from the law firm Kvale. The conclusion is that Støre was not impartial. The Kvale report harshly rejects Støre's repeated contention that the fact that the application for the grant was submitted through the Norwegian Shipowners' Association relieves him of any possible partiality. The report counters this position saying that such an interpretation of the rules would make them hollow and easy to circumvent. Conservative politician and 2nd Vice President of the Storting Per-Kristian Foss said that this conclusion is the same as his own.[29] Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg gave his support to Støre early following the first reports of the affair,[30] and later on he also defended the handling of the Støre case in comparison with that of Audun Lysbakken, who did resign, saying that Lysbakken had by himself come to the conclusion that he had neglected a conflict of interest whereas Støre had concluded that no such conflict existed.[31] This claim by the prime minister that Støre had assessed his impartiality caused protest from several critics who point out that Støre early on had said that he had in fact not evaluated any conflict-of-interest problems, instead cursorily dismissing the idea as not relevant on the basis that the application for the project was submitted not by Tschudi or his company but by the Norwegian Shipowners' Association. The critics according to one newspaper report, a leading source within Lysbakken's party, professor Petter Gottschalk and Per-Kristian Foss stated that the reality was that the two cases had been dealt with substantially using different sets of rules, and that Støre, being a more powerful politician from the prime minister's of party, was being protected.[32]

In 2007 Støre personally intervened in a case where Tschudi's company had been refused permits to transfer oil. Following the intervention the Ministry of the Environment reversed its position.[33]

2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack

Main article: 2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack

On 14 January 2008, a suicide bomber struck the Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, where Støre was staying.[34] Støre was unhurt in the incident, which killed six people, including Norwegian journalist Carsten Thomassen.[35] United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated that Støre was the target of the attack,[36] but this has been rejected by a Taliban spokesperson.[37]

Støre cancelled the rest of his visit to Afghanistan the day after the attack.[38]

2011 Norway Massacre

Main article: 2011 Norway attacks

Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks, stated that Støre was one of his main targets.[39]

References

  1. ^ http://www.dagenmagazinet.no/Nyheter/Samfunn/tabid/248/Default.aspx?ModuleId=68239&articleView=true
  2. ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10017928
  3. ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10043826
  4. ^ http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/innenriks/article1153888.ece
  5. ^ http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/innenriks/article1153888.ece
  6. ^ http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/innenriks/article1153888.ece
  7. ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10008385
  8. ^ a b Naravane, Vaiju (29 March 2012). "CWS won't be swayed by diplomatic pressure". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  9. ^ a b Berglund, Nina (26 March 2012). "Foreign Minister under attack". Views and News from Norway. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  10. ^ http://www.kjendis.no/skatt/person/JONAS+GAHR+ST%D8RE/1/1116158/
  11. ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=293612
  12. ^ http://nrk.no/nyheter/okonomi/skattelister/1.6827302
  13. ^ Lilleås, Heidi Schei; Berge, Jørgen (14 December 2010). "USA: - Støre tror han er smartere enn de fleste". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Lilleås, Heidi Schei (26 March 2012). "- Støre oppfører seg som Solkongen". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b c Sørenes, Kjetil Magne; Kristiansen, Bjørn S.; Aurdal, Martine (20 March 2012). "«Dette er en god mann. Det må dere få med»". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 3 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Tjersland, Jonas; Haugan, Bjørn; Ertesvåg, Frank; Nervik, Stein (23 March 2012). "Støre og Tschudi feirer 17. mai og nyttår sammen". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Gustavsen, Øyvind (20 March 2012). "UD ga millioner til Støre-venns stiftelse". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Bergsaker, Tore; Sørenes, Kjetil Magne; Kristiansen, Bjørn S. (1 April 2012). "- Forutsetningen for dette har vært et allmennyttig formål om å løfte kunnskap". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ a b Gustavsen, Øyvind (20 March 2012). "Støre-støtte skal granskes av Stortinget". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ a b c Sørenes, Kjetil Magne (March 29, 2012). "Ernst og Young ga råd til Støre:- Kan gi økonomisk fordel for Tschudi Shipping Company". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved March 29, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "– UD-tildeling kan ha gitt Tschudi økonomisk fordel" (in Norwegian). NRK. NTB. March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Nervik, Stein; Haugan, Bjørn (30 March 2012). "Tschudi-dokumenter forsvunnet". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Steffensen, Christian; Eriksrud, Aslak M.; Kirkevold, Fredrik (30 March 2012). "Støre-venn forsket på egen gruve" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 3 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Barstad, Stine (20 March 2012). "- Underlig at han ikke tar selvkritikk". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Berglund, Nina (26 March 2012). "Foreign Minister under attack". Views and News from Norway. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  26. ^ Aaserud, Sophie Lund (28 March 2012). "Frykter Støre er i utakt om habilitet" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 28 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Tjersland, Jonas; Haugan, Bjørn; Nervik, Stein; Ertesvåg, Frank (24 March 2012). "Jusprofessor snur i Støre-saken". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Therkelsen, Håvard (2 April 2012). "Vil vekke politikerne". Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Sørenes, Kjetil Magne (10 April 2012). "- Vanlig for Støre å stå på sitt". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Gustavsen, Øyvind (21 March 2012). "Stoltenberg har tillit til Støres vurderinger". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 13 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ Krüger, Robin Idland (13 April 2012). "Jens Stoltenberg: – Jeg har full tillit til Støre" (in Norwegian). TV 2. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Prestegård, Sofie; Sørenes, Kjetil Magne; Lode, Veslemøy (12 April 2012). "- Støre er utenriksminister og Ap-mann. Lysbakken var ingen av delene". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 13 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ "Flere avsløringer om Støre og Tschudi". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). 21 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel, BBC News, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
  35. ^ Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell, Aftenposten, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
  36. ^ FNs generalsekretær: - Støre var målet, Aftenposten, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
  37. ^ Taliban: - Støre var ikke målet, VG Nett, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
  38. ^ VG: Støre trolig hjem til Norge etter terrorangrepet, published January 14, 2008 Template:No icon
  39. ^ Brustad, Line (18 November 2011). "Breiviks hovedmål: Gro, Jonas og Eskil". Dagbladet. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

The Tschudi affair:

Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross
2003–2005 		Succeeded by

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