While Tromsø scrapped the agreement with its three Russian twin cities with immediate effect, Bodø wants to keep its. – Tromsø must make its choices based on its agreements, but for us, choosing to freeze the agreement represents a hope that we will end the war and that we can talk together again. That’s what the mayor of Bodø municipality, Ida Pinnerød, says. – When we in Bodø choose to freeze the agreement, it is about the content of the collaboration, which has been a people-to-people collaboration. Since 1990, Bodø has had Vyborg in Russia as its twin city. Like a number of other municipalities, Bodø chose to freeze the friendship agreement when the war in Ukraine broke out. But after Tromsø canceled its agreements, the debate has not been long in coming. – It is important not to cut off contact Last week Joakim Sennesvik (H) had an interview in the City Council in Bodø about the twinning city cooperation. The interviewer created engagement. – I think it is very sensible that Bodø puts it on hold, to see how it develops, says Ali Horori Photo: Bodø Labor Party One of those who spoke during the debate was Ali Horori (Ap). He believes that if you choose to end the friendship agreement, the pain can get worse. – It is important that we do not cut contact completely. – When we are going to start talking together again, which we have to do at one point or another, it is important that we do not now say that all hope is lost. The mayor of Bodø municipality says the same: – We have hope that this war must end. There’s something about having some bands left; something and solid cooperation in the future and we must not give up that hope. – Going astray Skjalg Fjellheim, political editor in Nordlys, believes that people-to-people cooperation has been dead for a long time. – From 2000 onwards, people-to-people cooperation has become more and more difficult. Furthermore, he emphasizes that the friendship can only be taken up once the Russians have got rid of the Putin regime. – Our relationship with Russia has changed permanently. It seems that many politicians, especially in northern Norway, have great difficulty accepting this. – Among northern Norwegian politicians, one seems to maintain a completely startling naivety, says Fjellheim. Photo: Nordlys – Northern Norway needs more cooperation with Finland and Sweden instead of clinging to a notion of people-to-people cooperation with Russia. Fjellheim believes it is sad that Bodø does not send clearer signals to Russia. – If you think you are letting the Russian people down by canceling friendship agreements with Putin’s state administration in Russian cities, you are on the wrong track. Then you have little knowledge about Russia. That is my impression. Municipal race on foreign policy Ida Pinnerød believes it is important that each municipality evaluates its agreements based on its content. On the other hand, she is skeptical that the municipalities should pursue a harsh foreign policy. – I am a little worried if there is a municipal race about foreign policy. And by that I mean that it is important that we don’t start outbidding each other to be the strictest with Russia. – I experienced that the city council sent a signal that we must not give up hope that the war will end and that we will one day resume cooperation with what is our neighboring country. Photo: Bodø municipality Pinnerød, emphasizes that Bodø City Council strongly distances itself from the war and that they will continue to follow the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian authorities. – We are still keeping it on ice. We do not have a type of content in our agreements that makes us need to be stricter than that. – For us, it has been natural to follow the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian authorities, and we have done that from day one. Peace researcher at Prio, Henrik Urdal, believes it is unfortunate to bury all existing cooperation structures. – I think it is sensible and necessary that you do not have political cooperation, and freeze it. Peace researcher at Prio, Henrik Urdal. Photo: Ebba Tellander / Prio – There is not much point in terminating such agreements. It does not change what has already been said about “that it is not possible to have political contact as the situation is now”. It is about not burning all bridges. Urdal believes that Bodø municipality is making a sensible decision in not terminating further cooperation. Will hold the debate Rana municipality will take up the call to Tromsø and will consider its friendship agreement with the Russian city, Petrozavodsk. – I will discuss it with group leaders in the municipal council, and we will also clarify it at the municipal council meeting on 10 November, says mayor Geir Waage (Ap) Narvik mayor Rune Edvardsen (Ap) will also discuss his connection to the twin town of Kingisepp in Russia. Narvik mayor Rune Edvardsen (Ap) Photo: Petter Strøm Edvardsen previously told news that he thought the decision of Tromsø municipality was correct. – As the situation is now, it is probably somewhat in the cards that we will have to start acting in different ways, in different areas.
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