Norway Reaffirms Refusal to Join Trump's "Peace Council"
Helsinki (ANTARA) — Norway will not join the so-called "Board of Peace" proposed by United States President Donald Trump, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Thursday (19 February).
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" at the US Institute of Peace, Trump said the United States would contribute US$10 billion to the initiative and claimed that Norway would host one of the council's events.
Ane Jorem, spokesperson for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denied the claim and reaffirmed that Norway would not become a member of the council, according to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).
"Norway has clearly communicated that we will not be a member of the Peace Council, and this position remains firm," Jorem said, as quoted by NRK.
Jorem added that Norway plans to hold the spring meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), a longstanding international mechanism chaired by Norway to coordinate aid for the Palestinian people, and that Norway is communicating with relevant parties regarding discussions on a Gaza peace plan on that occasion.
Norway is among a number of European countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, that have not joined the controversial council, which was formally established by Trump on 22 January on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" at the US Institute of Peace, Trump said the United States would contribute US$10 billion to the initiative and claimed that Norway would host one of the council's events.
Ane Jorem, spokesperson for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denied the claim and reaffirmed that Norway would not become a member of the council, according to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).
"Norway has clearly communicated that we will not be a member of the Peace Council, and this position remains firm," Jorem said, as quoted by NRK.
Jorem added that Norway plans to hold the spring meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), a longstanding international mechanism chaired by Norway to coordinate aid for the Palestinian people, and that Norway is communicating with relevant parties regarding discussions on a Gaza peace plan on that occasion.
Norway is among a number of European countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, that have not joined the controversial council, which was formally established by Trump on 22 January on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.