On Monday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre welcomes the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to a working lunch in the government’s representation facility. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is coming on an official visit to Norway from the United Arab Emirates. Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan travels around the world. Here from an official visit to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September. Photo: Manish Swarup / AP/NTB The Norwegian government itself points out that the country “plays an important role in the region”. Fears business cooperation takes up time They mention in a press release about the visit that they are a large energy producer that prioritizes the green shift, new technology, and that the country is important for the Norwegian maritime industry. Amnesty is concerned that opportunities for business cooperation are prioritized when leaders from Norway and the Emirates meet. – So far we see that it is the business world that they have raised the highest flag. So we are worried that it will overshadow everything, and that human rights will not get enough space, says political adviser Frank Conde Tangberg at Amnesty. Amnesty believes that the United Arab Emirates plays on soft power, and that the country systematically plays on peace diplomacy, climate diplomacy and the economy, to gain influence internationally. Frank Conde Tangberg from Amnesty fears that human rights will not get enough space during the working lunch Støre will have with the crown prince. Photo: Tommy Iversen / news Then they can manage to avoid discussions about human rights in their own country. – The Emirates have an ability to make themselves indispensable in international relations. We fear that it will limit the Norwegian authorities’ willingness to speak out about the gross human rights violations that take place there, says Tangberg to news. – Must address gross human rights violations Amnesty believes that the country, at the same time as hosting the major global climate summit last year, carried out a large mass trial against human rights defenders and dissidents. – They are not afraid to commit gross violations of human rights even when all eyes are on them, says the adviser. Amnesty expects Prime Minister Støre and a Labor Party-led government to use the opportunity to address the conditions of workers in the United Arab Emirates. – Do you think it must be brought up during this official visit? – Yes, it is clear when the crown prince from the United Arab Emirates, from Abu Dhabi, comes here. So it is only natural that a Labor Party-led government takes up the issue of migrant workers, who are exploited in the worst way in the Emirates. That they address queer rights, that they address women’s rights, and not least freedom of expression issues, which they have in the United Arab Emirates, says Tangberg. Amnesty’s Frank Conde Tangberg shows the call to Støre that he posted on X with a request for which issues Norway should confront the Emirates with Photo: Tommy Iversen / news – Wants to keep the talks constructive Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre does not respond to the call from Amnesty himself. From the Støre government, State Secretary Andreas Kravik from the Labor Party responds. He says there is no problem for the government or Støre to raise human rights when they host the official visit from the Emirates. – We have extensive experience in raising human rights issues with the Emirates. It is something we have done at the UN several times, and something we have also done when we meet them directly. We will also do it this time. So we are completely comfortable raising human rights issues, says State Secretary Kravik (Ap) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. State Secretary Andreas Kravik in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting the official visit. Photo: Anders Tvegård / news – Will Støre use an absentee vote, as Amnesty believes he must do? – The Prime Minister will do this in the same way as he has done in the past. Namely, to be clear and constructive when we address these things. But our experience is that in order to have a real effect, it is important that you have those conversations in a constructive and proper way. Thus, we have to address it in an efficient, sober and proper way, says Kravik. Kravik says that the government agrees with Amnesty that there are challenges with human rights in the United Arab Emirates. – There are problematic conditions in the Emirates when it comes to women’s rights, when it comes to migrants’ rights, when it comes to various human rights issues related to arbitrary imprisonment, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. These are things we are keen to address, says the State Secretary. Read also: Listen to the latest podcast episode from Urix: Published 06.10.2024, at 14.18
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Amnesty fears Støre does not dare to use the outvote for the Emirates – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
