Thorvald Stoltenberg
Encyclopedia
Thorvald Stoltenberg is a former Norwegian
politician. His ancestors stem from Northern Germany and emigrated to Norway in the 17th century. He served as Minister of Defense (1979–81) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1987–1989 and 1990–1993) in two Labour
governments.
From 1989 to 1990 he was appointed Norwegian Ambassador to the UN. In 1990 he became the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
, but served only one year before rejoining the Norwegian government. In 1993 appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the former Yugoslavia
and UN Co-Chairman of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia. Thorvald Stoltenberg was also witness of the United Nations on signing of Erdut Agreement
.
In 2003 he was Chairman of the Board of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
(International IDEA). Between 1999 and 2008 he was President of the Norwegian Red Cross
, the only president to serve three terms. He is also a member of the Trilateral Commission
, and holds a seat on their Executive Committee.
His son, Jens Stoltenberg
(b. 1959), followed him into politics and is, since October 2005, serving as Prime Minister of Norway
. He also has two daughters, Camilla
(b. 1958), a medical researcher and administrator, and Nini Stoltenberg
(b. 1963) whose heroin addiction has been much publicized.
Recently, Stoltenberg has led a commission whose primary purpose was to recommend changes in Norwegian drug policy to improve the situation of hard drug addicts. The question of heroin prescription was one of the most controversial topics evaluated by the commission set up by Bjarne Håkon Hanssen. The commission concluded in June 2010 that Norway should start trials with heroin prescription, in addition to making several other changes to its drug policy. He also joined an international campaign for a less punitive drug policy, the Global Commission on Drug Policy
, consisting of, among others, former Latin American leaders.
called this the greatest act of courage he has ever seen in his life. Stoltenberg himself kept the story a secret, until Farber in December 2006 revealed it on the Norwegian talk-show Først & sist
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
politician. His ancestors stem from Northern Germany and emigrated to Norway in the 17th century. He served as Minister of Defense (1979–81) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1987–1989 and 1990–1993) in two Labour
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
governments.
From 1989 to 1990 he was appointed Norwegian Ambassador to the UN. In 1990 he became the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
, but served only one year before rejoining the Norwegian government. In 1993 appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the former Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
and UN Co-Chairman of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia. Thorvald Stoltenberg was also witness of the United Nations on signing of Erdut Agreement
Erdut Agreement
The Erdut Agreement , officially the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, was the agreement reached on November 12, 1995 between the authorities of the Republic of Croatia and the local Serb authorities of the Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia...
.
In 2003 he was Chairman of the Board of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance is an international organization based in Stockholm. Its task is to support democracy around the world.- Aims :...
(International IDEA). Between 1999 and 2008 he was President of the Norwegian Red Cross
Norwegian Red Cross
The Norwegian Red Cross was founded September 22, 1865 by prime minister Frederik Stang. In 1907 the Norwegian Ministry of Defence authorized the organization for voluntary medical aid in war...
, the only president to serve three terms. He is also a member of the Trilateral Commission
Trilateral Commission
The Trilateral Commission is a non-governmental, non-partisan discussion group founded by David Rockefeller in July 1973 to foster closer cooperation among the United States, Europe and Japan.-History:...
, and holds a seat on their Executive Committee.
His son, Jens Stoltenberg
Jens Stoltenberg
is a Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. Having assumed office on 17 October 2005, Stoltenberg previously served as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001....
(b. 1959), followed him into politics and is, since October 2005, serving as Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
. He also has two daughters, Camilla
Camilla Stoltenberg
Camilla Stoltenberg is a Norwegian physician, researcher, and director of the Epidemiology division of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health...
(b. 1958), a medical researcher and administrator, and Nini Stoltenberg
Nini Stoltenberg
Nini Stoltenberg is a Norwegian television personality and sister of Jens Stoltenberg, current prime minister of Norway. She is, however, better known as a drug addict, and has been cited as such by Norwegian media on numerous occasions. She has often been depicted as an unofficial spokesperson...
(b. 1963) whose heroin addiction has been much publicized.
Recently, Stoltenberg has led a commission whose primary purpose was to recommend changes in Norwegian drug policy to improve the situation of hard drug addicts. The question of heroin prescription was one of the most controversial topics evaluated by the commission set up by Bjarne Håkon Hanssen. The commission concluded in June 2010 that Norway should start trials with heroin prescription, in addition to making several other changes to its drug policy. He also joined an international campaign for a less punitive drug policy, the Global Commission on Drug Policy
Global Commission on Drug Policy
The Global Commission on Drug Policy was a 19-person panel which issued an assessment in 2011 of the global war against drugs, saying "it's an abject disaster" according to one report. The emphasis in drug policy on harsh law enforcement over four decades has not accomplished its goal of banishing...
, consisting of, among others, former Latin American leaders.
Youth
In his youth Stoltenberg became heavily involved in the organization of Hungarian refugees fleeing the invading Soviet Army in 1956. In one particular situation, evacuating refugees by boat in the middle of the night, he jumped into the strong currents, risking his own life to save one of the boats. One of the other rescuers, future famous American journalist Barry FarberBarry Farber
Barry M. Farber is an American conservative radio talk show host, author and language-learning enthusiast. In 2002, industry publication Talkers magazine ranked him the 9th greatest radio talk show host of all time. He has also written articles appearing in the New York Times, Reader's Digest,...
called this the greatest act of courage he has ever seen in his life. Stoltenberg himself kept the story a secret, until Farber in December 2006 revealed it on the Norwegian talk-show Først & sist
Først & sist
Først & sist was a Norwegian talk show and was the largest in the Nordic countries. It was hosted by Fredrik Skavlan and aired on NRK.The show first aired in 1998 and was broadcast every Friday until its finale in 2007...
.
See also
- Family Genealogy (vestraat.net)