“As a Norwegian politician in Norway, a country bordering Russia, I have developed a working relationship with Russia,” Stoltenberg said in an interview with CNN one day after he took office. “And we were able also during the coldest period of the Cold War to work with Russia on issues like fishery, energy, environment.”
During Stoltenberg’s time as Prime Minister, Norway and Russia managed to agree on delimitation of the Barents Sea, after 40 years of negotiations. The two countries also agreed on visa-free travel for border residents during his time in position.
The 55-year-old Jens Stoltenberg on October 1 became the 13th secretary-general in the trans-Atlantic organization’s 65-year existence. On his first day in office, Stoltenberg told reporters he finds “no contradiction” between his desire for a strong NATO and the quest for better ties with Russia. But he also demanded that Moscow adhere to international law and that there should be a “clear change” in Russian actions toward Ukraine.
Analysts predicted his consensus-building style would mean softer rhetoric than his predecessor, Denmark’s Anders Fogh Rasmussen. “I expect more moderate language, and that he will try to keep the dialogue open,” said Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, according to Associated Press.
When Stoltenberg was chosen for the position earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russian State TV that he had “very good relations, including personal relations” with the former Norwegian premier. “This is a very serious, responsible person,” President Putin said, “but we’ll see how our relations develop with him in his new position,” CNN writes.
In a telegram to Stoltenberg on his 50th birthday in 2009, then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that Russia highly validates Mr. Stoltenberg’s efforts in developing relations between the two countries:
“Your efforts in strengthening the Russian-Norwegian cooperation are deservedly appreciated in our country. I am confident that the upcoming intergovernmental discussions in May this year will be marked with new agreements on further development of the good neighborly relations between Russia and Norway,” BarentsObserver reported.
