Foreign Minister back home
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who survived a terrorist attack at his hotel in Kabul on Monday, cancelled parts of his program in Afghanistan and was back in Oslo Tuesday afternoon. He insists, however, that support for the war-torn country will continue. A shaken foreign minister signed a condolence protocol set up at the Norwegian base in Kabul for the Norwegian journalist murdered by terrorists on Monday. PHOTO: HARALD HENDEN/VG/SCANPIX |
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Støre, who was in Kabul to announce a 50 percent increase in Norwegian humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, carried on Tuesday with a lunch meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. But then he, his delegation and the press corps covering their visit boarded a chartered flight back to Norway.
Støre had planned to visit Maimana, where Norway has a regional redevelopment team in place. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday morning that the visit would be cancelled in the wake of the drama in Kabul.
Both Stoltenberg and Støre, however, said Norway will maintain its presence in Afghanistan, which includes both NATO troops and civilian aid workers.
The terrorist attack, Stoltenberg said, only shows how important it is for Norway to contribute to stabilizing the war-torn country.
"We can't bow to terrorists," said Stoltenberg, after expressing sorrow over the murder of Thomassen. "A legally elected government and the United Nations have asked us to contribute. We listen to the UN. And millions of people in Afghanistan need us."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon claimed Monday night that Støre was the target of the terrorist attack. He refused to elaborate, and Støre said he didn't agree.
"I have difficulty speculating on that," he said. A Taliban spokesman who took credit for the attack said the target was foreigners in general, not the Norwegians or Støre in particular.
Newspaper VG reported Tuesday that Defense Ministry officials had warned the Foreign Ministry against publishing Støre's program on its web site, for security reasons. Stoltenberg claimed that all security routines had been followed.
"Defense intelligence comes with a security evaluation, and Police Security Agency (PST) are responsible for security..." Stoltenberg said, noting that three PST officers were traveling with Støre as security guards.
"There's always uncertainty and risk when one travels to areas like this," Stoltenberg said.
Norwegian government ministers have nonetheless made several trips to Kabul in recent years, Støre included.
Nina Berglund/NTB
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