Several people in the Storting are advocating to look at the controversial fishing vessel exemption with new eyes. The background is the explosions at the gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, where suspicion has been cast on Russia, which denies that they are behind any sabotage. – A new assessment must be made. The latest developments show that there is every reason to be on the alert in relation to all Russian activity, says parliamentary representative for Hordaland, Liv Kari Eskeland (H). Foreign policy spokesperson Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) stated in April that it is “right that we make the exceptions that are necessary from Norway’s position”. But she has since demanded an answer from the government on “what kind of control is carried out by Russian fishing vessels to ensure that they are not equipped for military purposes”. Last in the Debate on news on Tuesday evening (see below). In an article in the newspaper iTromsø, High Representative Erlend Svardal Bøe writes that the government “must not be naive”, but take “a new and quick assessment of whether Norway should continue to have this exception when we know the threat Russian fishing vessels can pose to critical infrastructure .” Mysterious events in Norwegian waters Since last autumn, several mysterious events in Norwegian waters have been interpreted within the framework of hybrid war, i.e. a mixture of conventional military operations and alternative means such as cyber attacks and sabotage. – One of the “advantages” of hybrid war is that the attacking party can hide. In many cases, there will also be doubts as to whether an attack will actually take place, says FFi researcher Sverre Diesen to forskning.no. Forces in the Storting will deny Russian fishing vessels access to Norwegian ports. In the picture: Vladimir Putin on his way down into the depths to look at the wreck of the Russian 19th-century frigate “Oleg”. Photo: RIA NOVOSTI / REUTERS / NTB The exemption for Russian fishing vessels is fundamental to the review of the Norwegian-Russian fisheries management, but allegations of espionage and militarization of the Russian fishing fleet have for several months increased the pressure on the exemption. The government has nevertheless been adamant that it will not close Norwegian ports to Russian fishing vessels. – It is good that votes in Høgre are finally coming after Venstre, says Alfred Bjørlo (V). A Liberal proposal to scrap the exemption will be considered when the Storting reopens in October. The gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 started leaking into the Baltic Sea on Monday. – We cannot be passive in the face of Russian aggression – If it has not previously been clear that Russian fishing vessels should be barred from Norwegian ports, it should in any case be clear now. We cannot continue to be passive in the face of Russian aggression, writes Venstre leader Guri Melby on Facebook. In the Debate on Tuesday evening, lieutenant colonel Geir Hågen Karlsen said that “Norwegian gas supply is probably the biggest and most strategically important sabotage target in the whole of Europe right now”. Acting MDG leader Arild Hermstad says the events in the Baltic Sea “strengthen our argument that we can no longer allow Russian fishing vessels in Norwegian ports”. Member of the foreign affairs committee in the Storting, Christian Tybring-Gjedde (Frp), tells news that “it is important that we are able to see the whole picture and that we do not conduct foreign policy based on the feelings of the blink of an eye”. – I don’t think the government needs to make a new assessment. The information the government has presented in connection with the background to the decision is reflected and sensible, he says. This is what the “industry” says, Johannes Sivertsen, chairman of the Norwegian Lottery Association – The question must be reassessed. It’s also time to confiscate Russian driver’s licenses. Jan-Erik Indrestrand, Fishermen’s Association – Norway’s fishermen’s association stands where we have done – that we take into account the assessments the government makes and has made. We believe it is right that the sanctions are set up in a way that does not jeopardize the sustainable management of shared fishing resources in the Barents Sea. Our focus as a business and interest organization is therefore directed towards the best possible management of resources. Then it is a political challenge to achieve the best possible cooperation on how this can be achieved in the very unusual and challenging political situation that currently prevails. Audun Maråk, managing director i Fishing boat – We note that the government decided to make exceptions for Russian vessels when the sanctions were set. The foundation was, among other things, collaboration on the management of the shared fishing resources in the Barents Sea. Fiskebåt supported the Government’s decision. A change to this decision after the “sanctions package” can be perceived as a unilateral Norwegian escalation of the conflict between Norway and Russia. We stand behind the government’s handling of the matter. Harald Solberg, managing director of the Norwegian Shipping Association – The government must answer this itself. The Shipping Association has never asked for or worked for Russian fishing vessels to have access to Norwegian ports. In our opinion, this is a purely fisheries policy and not a shipping policy basis. Despite increasing pressure, the government and Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) stand firm on the exception that allows Russian fishing vessels to dock in Norway. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news – A gift package for those who want us to hurt Dagens Næringsliv wrote earlier in September that the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries “misunderstood EU rules” before the government stepped in to make exceptions for Russian fishing vessels from the sanctions against Russia. A combined control and constitutional committee at the Storting has since sent a letter to the government with questions about the decision. Researcher Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam at the Naval Academy has referred to the Russian traffic in Norwegian ports as “an Achilles’ heel” and “a gift package for all actors who want us to hurt”. – Russian maritime gray zone warfare in the north is not a hypothetical problem, but a real threat, she told news in August. She is happy about the signal from Høgre to put further pressure on the government. – The only thing is that it should have been done yesterday! news has tried to get a comment from the ministry, but Fisheries Minister Bjørnar Skjæran has so far not had a chance to respond.
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The gas leak increases the pressure to shut out Russian fishermen – news Vestland
