(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[criticism] Is Norway quieter in the door in its criticism of the Russian war in Georgia due to the Norwegian state company StatoilHydro's large investments in Russia? Yes, critics say. And to Ny Tid, StatoilHydro now admits that Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's efforts are important for the oil company to earn its billions in Russia:
- There is no doubt that the Norwegian authorities have been a very important support for us in connection with Shtokman, says director of communications at StatoilHydro, Ola Morten Aanestad, to Ny Tid.
It has aroused international interest that Støre has in the last couple of weeks been among the foremost to emphasize that one should limit criticism of Russia. In this week's edition of Ny Tid, Al-Jazeera reports on Støre's calming statements, which other international agencies have also done. In comparison, for example, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt draws parallels between Russia's behavior and Hitler's motive when he invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938 – namely "protection of its own citizens". A large number of European heads of state, including Social Democrat Gordon Brown, have been far clearer in their statements.
Aage Borchgrevink, author and adviser to the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, believes the StatoilHydro statement emphasizes the close connection between politics and business, especially in the Russian context.
- The statements from Aanestad are relatively sensational. The concessions from StatoilHydro confirm that there is a clear connection between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, StatoilHydro and the Russian authorities in the development of Shtokman. This also shows how much politics has to say when it comes to business connections. Everything is politics in Russia, says Borchgrevink, who has previously pointed out that Norwegian policy towards Russia is to walk quietly in the doors.
Borchgrevink believes that the Government must to a greater extent dare to put business interests aside in favor of promoting human rights in Russia. In Ny Tid last week, he advocated that the company create a fund to give something back to the parts of Russian society that are under the greatest pressure, such as independent media and organizations.
- Here, the Government should take more responsibility – and send signals to StatoilHydro, he believes.
According to StatoilHydro itself, the development of the huge Shtokhman gas field, northwest of Murmansk, will be a cornerstone of the company's international portfolio. The Norwegian oil giant has been included in the planning, but it is only in the first phase of the project. Whether the cooperation will be extended to the actual development phase will not be clarified until 2009. And it is the Russians themselves who decide.
The Norwegian oil and gas giant's statement in Ny Tid fits well into the picture that critical voices paint when they explain why the great power Russia can get away with forms of abuse of power within its own borders. The events of recent weeks in the Caucasus, where Russia has entered Georgia, have raised this issue. "The government of a country where the political opposition and the free press are oppressed can do anything without regard to what the world community may think," columnist Natalia Novozhilova wrote in the previous issue of Ny Tid.
Indra Øverland is head of the energy program at the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy, Nupi. On the other hand, he does not believe that Støre or Norwegian politicians pay special attention to Norway's oil and gas interests in Russia.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government take some account of Norwegian business interests in general when they speak out, but it is completely wrong to say that Norwegian positions are characterized by such considerations, says Øverland.
