– The 15 intelligence officers are declared undesirable because they have conducted activities that are incompatible with their diplomatic status, says Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt. The 15 officers have been in Norway as diplomats. The Norwegian authorities therefore believe that they have actually engaged in intelligence. All 15 must now leave the country shortly. Norway will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for one. The government’s decision is based on the fact that the new security policy situation has led to an increased intelligence threat from Russia. – I want to emphasize that Norway wants normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway. What we are doing now is aimed exclusively at unwanted intelligence activities, says Huitfeldt.
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