Norway must take a leading role in the reconstruction of Ukraine – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country

– Europe is wondering what Norway will do with our enormous income. My answer is that the Norwegian government should take a leading role in the joint European effort to rebuild Ukraine, says Guri Melby to news. Today she opens the Liberal Party’s national meeting. Party members from all over the country will gather there to adopt a local political platform ahead of next year’s municipal elections. But for the party leader, it is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine that tops the agenda. She is asking the government to donate advanced weapons to Ukraine – and commit to taking a leadership role in rebuilding the country once the war is over. – That work must start now. This time, Norway cannot take a back seat. The government must show leadership, says Melby. Liberal party leader Guri Melby believes Norway should lead the European effort to rebuild Ukraine when the war is over. Here 1st deputy leader Sveinung Rotevatn (left), party leader Guri Melby and 2nd deputy leader Abid Raja (right). Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB She believes that Russian President Putin and his inner circle are “gambling” that the West’s support for Ukraine will disappear if the war drags on. – Putin wants the Ukrainians to fear the rain of bombs from the sky. That Europe will be exhausted through the throttling of gas supplies. And that the world should tremble with fear of nuclear weapons. – Therefore, we must make it absolutely clear that we will support Ukraine as long as they ask for our support, she emphasizes. Will donate advanced weapons The Liberals will launch a long-term and binding plan for how Norway should support Ukraine. The plan will be presented as a proposal in the Storting next week. Among several proposals, the party asks the government to: Donate advanced air defense systems and naval targeting missiles Take a leading political and financial role for the reconstruction of Ukraine Introduce zero tariffs on Ukrainian goods Take a leading role in international efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute war crimes in Ukraine Remove the exemption for Russian fishing vessels in the port ban See the entire Liberal plan here: The Storting asks the Government to acquire and donate advanced air defense systems such as NASAMS to Ukraine The Storting asks the Government to acquire and donate advanced naval targeting missiles such as NSM missiles to Ukraine The Storting asks the Government to enter into a dialogue with NATO countries and Ukraine for to identify additional weapons systems Ukraine will need and acquire these, for example through the British “International Fund for Ukraine” and the “European Peace Facility”. The Storting asks the Government to enter into a dialogue with NATO countries and Ukraine to ensure funding and delivery of necessary basic materials such as ammunition to Ukraine. The Storting asks the Government to take a leading role politically and financially in the coordinated European effort to rebuild Ukraine. The Storting asks the Government to introduce zero customs duties on Ukrainian goods. The Storting asks the Government to take a leading role in the international work to identify, investigate and prosecute war crimes in Ukraine, for example through increased allocations to the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and the International Commission for Missing Persons and voluntary organizations that contribute to the documentation of war crimes. The Storting asks the Government to remove the exception for Russian fishing vessels in the port ban The Storting asks the Government to discuss with the EU whether Ukraine can be a recipient of EEA funds also before the country becomes an EU member. The Storting asks the government to contribute to building medical rehabilitation centers in Ukraine with Norwegian expertise. The Storting asks the government to consider taking the initiative to suspend Russia from international organizations until they withdraw from Ukraine and end the war. The government increases aid to Ukraine by 10 billion Norway already contributes billions of kroner in humanitarian and military support to Ukraine, and to accepting Ukrainian refugees in Norway. In the government’s proposal for the state budget, which was presented last week, they proposed to increase aid to Ukraine by a total of NOK 10 billion in 2022 and 2023. Large parts of the aid will be provided through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The government proposes to increase aid to Ukraine by NOK 10 billion in 2022 and 2023. Here Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) and Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp). Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Ahead of the state budget, the government sent a number of proposals to the Storting on economic measures for Ukraine. Then Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap) said the following in a press release: – Norway stands together with other countries and international organizations in the work to support Ukraine. Norway will choose effective, joint European and international solutions also in the reconstruction work. This ensures that the money is used where it is most needed. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt tv and UN Ambassador Mona Juul during the meeting in the UN General Assembly on Russia’s invasion and annexation of Ukrainian territories on 13 October 2022. Photo: Ragnhild H. Simenstad / Ministry of Foreign Affairs / NTB The government also proposed to increase support for the World Bank’s Ukraine Fund with one billion kroner. The fund is working to mobilize crisis support for the Ukrainian authorities and with new support for reconstruction, according to the government. Gets a visit from Ukrainian party leader Venstre has invited Ukrainian party leader Kira Rudik (37) to the national meeting. She leads the liberal party Golos, the Ukrainian sister party of the Liberal Party, and is elected to the Ukrainian parliament. Venstre and Rudik’s party are said to have had a lot of contact in recent months. The day after Russia invaded Ukraine, Rudik shared a photo of herself on Twitter posing with an AK-47, also known as a Kalashnikov. In the message she wrote: – I am learning to use a Kalashnikov and preparing to carry a weapon. It sounds surreal. Just a few days ago, it would never have occurred to me. Our women will protect our earth in the same way as our men. Hello Ukraine! PARTISAN: Kira Rudik leads the Ukrainian liberal party Golos. The day after Russia invaded Ukraine, she shared this photo on Twitter of herself carrying an AK-47. Photo: Kira Rudik/@kiraincongress / Twitter The Twitter message was mentioned by several international media, and has since been liked by almost 300,000 users. See the questioning of Guri Melby in today’s Politisk kvarter: Liberal party leader Guri Melby was challenged on Friday by presenter Bjørn Myklebust in Politisk kvarter ahead of the national meeting.



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