You're reading: Norway ambassador says his nation will stick to sanctions

Ukraine, with 43 million people, can expect a lot from Norway, with only 5 million people.Ukraine can expect continued economic sanctions against Russia for as long as the Kremlin occupies Crimea and keeps up its war against Ukraine.

“Norway cannot tolerate breach of international law,” Norway’s Ambassador to Ukraine Jon Elvedal Fredriksen said in a recent interview at the Norwegian Embassy in Kyiv. “Our freedom depends on it.”

Ukraine can expect continued financial support so that Kyiv can improve its economy and battle corruption. Norway had been giving about $7 million a year in technical support, but has ramped that up that figure to $45 million a year. Recently, it gave Ukraine a $25 million grant – not a loan – to the state budget.

“There is a certain trust in the current government that they are able to handle it,” Fredriksen said, even though journalists asked him whether he’s worried about the money disappearing into the back hole of corruption.

Ukraine can also expect more trade and expertise – from fresh seafood to technologies that improve energy efficiency and shipbuilding, among other areas.

But Ukraine cannot expect help in one area – lethal weapons to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.

“It would not be the right time to deliver weapons in Ukraine. That would run the risk of fueling the conflict,” Fredriksen said. “Norway has extremely strict legislation when it comes to exporting arms to countries in conflict, probably one of the strictest areas of the world.”

The no-arms message was delivered to Ukraine’s government by Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who said Norway will not change its legislation.

But plenty of room remains to strengthen bilateral trade relations and political ties, with both sharing borders with Russia.

On the trade front, the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce held one business conference in Kyiv on Nov. 18, attended by Solberg and her Ukrainian counterpart, Arseniy Yatsneyuk. A follow-up conference will take place in Oslo, Norway, on Nov. 11.

Fredriksen said the first conference in Kyiv proved useful. “We got a lot of Norwegian companies interested in Ukraine, companies that have not been here before,” he said.

Norway’s stance against Russia is costing the Scandinavian nation plenty, especially with the Kremlin. Last year, in retaliation for Norway participating in the European Union and United States sanctions against Russia, President Vladimir Putin banned all imports of Norwegian seafood, its second largest export after oil.

It was a big blow.

“Our biggest market disappeared just like that,” Fredriksen said.

Norway lost in other ways, too, by sticking to sanctions that ban selling oil and gas technology to Russia. It also no longer imports steel components from Russian-occupied areas of the Donbas.

But trade hasn’t completed stopped between Norway and Russia and Fredriksen said that “Russia takes a constructive stance” in the Arctic Circle, a multi-governmental organization devoted to issues involving the region.

Besides a common border, Norway and Russia also share reliance on oil exports. So while Norwegians are hurting from the drop in world oil prices, the consequence is not nearly as dire as it is for Russians.

“What the Norwegian economy has shown is high ability to adapt to changing conditions,” he said. Norway’s per-capita income is one of the highest in the world because of a diversified and resilient economy. Its state pension fund, fueled by revenue from oil exports, is one of the largest investment funds in the world. None of those descriptions apply to the Russian economy, which is extremely dependent on oil and gas exports.

Norway has a greater degree of independence of action in many areas, as a member of NATO but not of the European Union.

Norway and Switzerland have free trade agreements with Ukraine, but Fredriksen admits that Norway has erected high tariffs to protect its domestic agricultural industry. Nonetheless, he still sees areas “where Ukrainian companies can compete with others.” Norway already imports Ukrainian wheat, vegetables and fruit.

But Ukraine needs to become a more attractive place to invest, the ambassador said. “If Ukraine actually succeeds in putting a much better framework in place, there is potential for Norwegian investments in the fishery sector,” Fredriksen said. “We have competence there, second to none.”

“But, of course, I am worried about the continued lack of trust between the population and the government,” he said. “Most of all Ukraine needs rule of law. Ukraine does have a problem with dependent courts and dependent prosecutors.”

The criminal justice institutions have been “instruments for powerful people with vested interests,” he said. But change, such as replacing judges, is dificult. One place to start, he said, is with the General Prosecutor’s Office, which needs a “total overhaul.”

Rule of law is another area where Norway wants to coordinate with other donors to do more. “In Norway, you do not have government control of the judicial system,” he said. “We would like to see more sweeping reforms when it comes to fighting corruption. Fundamental changes are needed so people can see we are not going to have the old ways in new wrapping. It’s not difficult to understand the frustrations.”

He said that keys for successful diplomacy in Kyiv are to understand the differences between Ukraine and Russia, to learn Ukrainian history and language and to appreciate its vibrant civil society and free press – at least in comparison to Russia, where he served in Murmansk.

While he didn’t predict President Viktor Yanukovych would simply flee power on Feb. 22, 2014, he said “we could see that this extreme version of the post-Soviet oligarch model was not sustainable.”
Today’s government is a welcome contrast, at least in approach. “Whatever you might say about this government, the access for the diplomatic community has changed – it’s like night and day. Dialogue is open and frank.”

Fredriksen is in his final year of a five-year stint, after which will return to Oslo with his wife and 11-year-old son for a new assigment in the Foreign Ministry. But he said “I think Ukraine will be with us for a long time.”

Kyiv Post chief editor Brian Bonner can be reached at [email protected].