Mongolia–Norway relations

Mongolia-Norway relations
Map indicating locations of Mongolia and Norway

Mongolia
Norway

Mongolia–Norway relations refers to the bilateral relationship of Mongolia and Norway. Diplomatic relations were established on 11 January 1968.[1] Neither country has a resident embassy. Mongolia is represented to Norway via its embassy in Brussels, while Norway is represented in Mongolia by its embassy in Beijing. There is also a Norwegian honorary consulate general in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia plans to establish an embassy in Stockholm and move the representative in Brussels. The move is to facilitate the development of bilateral contacts and have stronger relations between Norway and Mongolia.[2]

Humanitarian aid

There are currently about 20 Norwegians in Mongolia, and most of them are related to the work of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission (NLM).[1] NLM has performed development activities in Mongolia since 1994.[3] NLM has 16 envoys in Mongolia working on four humanitarian aid projects funded by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. The organization also provides financial support to churches and other Christian organizations.[3]

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation also funds other programs in Mongolia. Their Save the Children Norway program provides money to the Mongolian Child Rights Centre.[4]

The Government of Norway has promoted the commercialization of super-insulating materials in the housing sector in Mongolia in coordination with the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Program Mongolia, and the Mongolian Ministry of Infrastructure and provided technical and financial support in building energy efficient housing.[5]

In 2007, the total Norwegian aid to Mongolia amounted to 5.4 million NOK.[1]

Official Visits

There has traditionally been only modest diplomatic contact between Mongolia and Norway, though according to Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre bilateral relations have been "good and fruitful" ever since they were established.[6] Haakon, the Crown Prince of Norway, visited Mongolia in November 2008 as the goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme.[6][7][8] Mongolia was at a crossroads and had to decide if it will make full of use its economic growth to reach the Millennium Development Goals.[9] At the Kaan Bank Theatre in Mongoliahe said:

[It] is quite interesting to note that Mongolia and Norway were both at their height of power about the same time at the beginning of the second millennium. ... In modern times, we share a relatively recent independent statehood. Both our countries are committed to a democratic way of government and to the rule of law. In this regard, I am happy to learn that Norway has given support to the UNDP’s efforts aimed at strengthening democratic institutions in Mongolia, and that there are fruitful relations between the Parliaments in our respective countries. Both our countries are large in size with comparatively small populations. We share the fortune of having a significant wealth of natural resources, upon which our prosperity largely depends. ... As small nations, Norway and Mongolia also share a belief in multilateral co-operation based on international law, with the United Nations at the centre.[10]

Nambaryn Enkhbayar, the Mongolian president used the visit as an opportunity to ask the crown prince for humanitarian aid from Norway.[11]

The Crown Prince's visit marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Norway and Mongolia, which also saw the foreign ministers of the two nations exchange congratulations.[6]

Kirsti Kolle Grøndahl, the President of the Norwegian Parliament, along with Jørgen Kosmo visited Mongolia, in 1999 and again in 2004. In 2001 deputy-speaker J. Byambadorj visited Norway where he met with the speaker of the Norwegian parliament on the cooperation between the two countries including developmental aid.[1][12][13]

Vice President of the Norwegian Parliament Carl I. Hagen represented Norway during Mongolia's 800-year anniversary in 2006. Jørgen Kosmo, now Auditor General of Norway, visited the country in 2007 to launch an aid-funded collaboration on capacity building. The chairman of the Mongolian parliament (the State Great Hural) visited Norway in 1997 and 2006. There have been Mongolian foreign minister visits to Norway in 2000 and 2007.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bilaterale forbindelser" (in Norwegian). Ministry of Foreign Affair. Archived from the original on 2013-01-12. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  2. ^ "Norway opens Honorary Consulate General in Mongolia". Norway. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  3. ^ a b "Mongoler" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Lutheran Mission. Archived from the original on 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2010-05-26. NLM startet arbeid i Mongolia i 1994
  4. ^ "Ex-post evaluation of the Mongolia programme Save the Children Norway 1996-2006". Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. Archived from the original on 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2010-05-27. The Save the Children Norway (SCN) Programme consists of a single partner, the Mongolian Child Rights Centre (MCRC). SCN served as principal donor and has funded this local NGO for ten years from its birth in 1996.
  5. ^ UNDP in Mongolia, pg 8
  6. ^ a b c "Norway and Mongolia marks the anniversary of 40 years of diplomatic relations". Norway. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  7. ^ "Crown Prince Haakon to Mongolia with UNDP". Kongehuset. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  8. ^ "Norwegian crown prince to visit Mongolia 3-6 Nov". Montsame News Agency at BBC Monitoring. October 28, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  9. ^ "Crown Prince Haakon visits Mongolia at a crossroads". Kongehuset. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  10. ^ "Reception in Kaan Bank Theatre, Mongolia". Kongehuset. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  11. ^ "Mongolian president asks crown prince for Norwegian aid". Montsame News Agency at BBC Monitoring. October 28, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  12. ^ "Deputy speaker holds talks in Norway". Montsame News Agency at BBC Monitoring. November 28, 2001. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  13. ^ "Parliamentary delegation to visit Norway, Sweden 26–29 November". Montsame News Agency at BBC Monitoring. November 27, 2001. Retrieved 2010-05-26.