The overarching objective for Norway’s international development policies is to eradicate poverty and to ensure social justice.
To contribute most effectively to this the Government has defined a few areas in which Norway can offer competence that can make a real difference. These areas include:
- Environment and sustainable development
- Peacebuilding
- Human rights and humanitarian assistance
- Energy effiency and clean energy
- Gender issues and women’s rights
- Good governance and anti-corruption
Let me on this occasion focus on sustainable development, environment and energy. The most serious challenge of our time is the on-going climatic change which will have to be redressed.
You all know why. You are all aware of the dramatic consequenses if climatic changes come out of control. This is why we have to adress this problem with all available means, ranging from tropical forest conservation to deforestation, waste management, cleaner industries and responsible management and development of different sources of energy.
Being a highly developed energy-producing nation Norway is in a position to contribute constructively to ensure sustainable development, that is economic and social development which does not compromise our environment and our climate.
Norway’s development cooperation extends to a large number of countries, including the Balkans. Programmes and projects related to sustainable development are always included in our efforts, also here in Macedonia.
It is the belief of the Norwegian Government that in addressing a specific developmental problem all relevant stakeholders should be involved. That is why it gives me particular pleasure to be here to-day. To succeed in obtaining a cleaner and more cost effective industry in Macedonia we need obviously the active participation of the private sector as well as all responsible Governmental authorities. But Norsk Energi is also a part of a consortium which ensures a civil society perspective as well as the involvement of a multilateral organization like UNIDO. This seems to be an excellent mobilization of all those actors that can contribute to a true ownership to concrete result-oriented action.
Norway supports Macedonia’s euro-atlantic integration efforts. A strengthened focus on environment, climate and energy is a key element in these efforts. Sustainable social and economic development can be an engine for progress also in the field of peace-building and stabilization of democratic structures. We must also keep regional and global perspectives on our mind when we are involved. Norway is pleased to support national projects in Macedonia. We are equally pleased to support regional initiatives on the Western Balkans. And we will encourage all our partners, here and around the globe, to collectively be involved in the up-coming international events aimed at responding globally to the environmental and climatic challenges facing us all.