23 Jan. 2006

Norwegian Prime Minister visits NATO Multimedia High resolution photos of the Prime Minister’s visit Key links Permanent Delegation of Norway to NATO The Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, visited NATO HQ on 23 January to discuss with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer some of the key issues on NATO’s agenda. This was Mr. Stoltenberg’s first visit to NATO since he became Prime Minister in October 2005. Looking to Riga The meeting focused on the Alliance’s political agenda ahead of the upcoming Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government, which will be held in the Latvian capital, Riga, this November. The Summit is expected to focus on NATO’s continuing political and military transformation. This will include the financing of NATO’s operations, comprising rapid, long-distance deployments, to ensure that NATO has the resources necessary to match its growing political commitments. The Prime Minister and the Secretary General also discussed the importance of further developing relations with Russia, as well as Afghanistan, where NATO is preparing to expand its role. Norway is currently leading one of nine NATO-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan, in the north of the country. Norway is one of the 12 founding members of the NATO Alliance, which now numbers 26 countries.