Norway To Open Embassy In Myanmar

Norway to open embassy in Myanmar
BY ANDERS HOLM NIELSEN



OSLO: -- Norway is upgrading its presence in Myanmar by opening a full-fledged embassy in Yangon. The announcement was made by Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, when he met the President of Myanmar, Thein Sein, in Oslo. President Thein Sein is in Norway on an official visit.

“The increasing cooperation between Norway and Myanmar also means that it has now been decided to upgrade the presence in the country to a full-fledged embassy during the fall, says Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

In November 2012 a Nordic embassy office opened in Yangon. The office was opened by Prime Minister Stoltenberg and Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt. The Norwegian part of the office is subject to the Embassy in Bangkok, but will be upgraded to a full-fledged embassy.

Myanmar President, Thein Sein, is now on his first visit to Europe. Tuesday afternoon he had political talks with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

On the agenda was collaboration between countries and the current situation in Myanmar. The prime minister praised President Thein Sein for the reform process and that Myanmar now has taken important steps towards a more democratic and peaceful society.

“Transition to civilian rule, the release of political prisoners, a by-election in which Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD party was elected to parliament and the lifting of media censorship are important milestones in the reform process in Myanmar,” says Stoltenberg.

The Prime Minister also announced that Norway is prepared to help further with support in areas where they have expertise. Democracy, natural resources and environment are areas in which Norway is able to assist.

“Norway has a long history of support for democracy in Myanmar. We were early supporters of the reform process and will continue to support the reform forces and the sustainable economic development of Myanmar,” said Stoltenberg.

Source: http://scandasia.com/norway-to-open-embassy-in-myanmar/

-- ScandAsia 2013-02-27