NATO Secretary General, Allies commemorate victims of 22 July terrorist attacks
In a tribute to the victims and survivors of the 22 July 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the resilience of the Norwegian people and the strength of democracy on Wednesday (31 May 2023).
“Our democratic values prevailed” and “terrorism failed,”the Secretary General said. “There is a line between Utøya and Ukraine,” he said, “between a brutal act of terrorism and an illegal war of aggression.” The values of democracy, freedom, and diversity of thought, opinion and belief, which were attacked then are the ones attacked now, the Secretary General stressed. “We will not let authoritarian states break down the rules-based international order. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. And we will not let terrorists crush our free and open societies. We will stand united to protect our values and our people,” he added.
Mr. Stoltenberg was Prime Minister during the deadly terrorist attacks, which killed 77 people at government headquarters in Oslo and at a Labour youth camp on the island of Utøya on 22 July 2011.
Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, the leader of the support group for the victims, Lisbeth Røneland, and NATO Foreign Ministers attended the ceremony.
The event preceded an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers and invitee Sweden which will take place on Thursday (1 June). The meeting will address key issues to help prepare for the Vilnius Summit on 11-12 July, including NATO’s enduring support for Ukraine.