The Ambassador called back

The Norwegian ambassador to Morocco, Arne Aasheim, has been called back to
Norway after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Petersen, reacted to his
statements in the TV-program “Brennpunkt”.

Tore Gjerstad/Lars Inge Staveland, Dagbladet (daily newspaper)

Tuesday 3 May 2005

The program will be aired on Norwegian Broadcasting Network (NRK) this
evening. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vidar Helgesen, got to see the
program last night, and reported its content to Jan Petersen.

- Aasheim has been called back to inform us about his statements in the
program, says Eirik Bergesen, information adviser in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.

The NRK program Brennpunkt raises the involvement of Norwegian fishery
industry companies in Western Sahara, a territory occupied by Morocco.
According to Dagbladet’s information, Aasheim’s makes statements that in
conflict with the official Norwegian policy regarding Western Sahara. Norway
does not support company establishments in Western Sahara, and supports the UN
policy regarding occupied territories. Morocco annexed Western Sahara in the
late 1970’s, and has been in conflict with the UN over the area since then.

Supports a softer line of policy

Morocco has wanted to change their international policy towards Western Sahara
for a long time, and Aasheim’s statements are interpreted by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs as support of a softer line of policy towards the occupying
power. In particular, the statements are in contrast to statements by Vidar
Helgesen earlier in the same program. Arne Aasheim is an experienced diplomat
and has served in several countries in Latin America. He played a central role
in the peace negotiations in Guatemala, signed in Oslo in 1996, and he enjoys
a good reputation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aasheim has also
been involved in peace talks between governmental forces and the guerrilla
FARC in Colombia.

[Translation by the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara]

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Original article, in Norwegian:
http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/05/03/430671.html
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Forwarded by:
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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
wsahara@...

*** Referendum now! ***

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
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