Guest speech: Ambassador of Norway, H.E. Mr. Jan Peterson

As the opening in-house lecture for this semester, on the 2nd of November 2011 the IMC Export Department had the honor to welcome the 4th Guest from the far North, H.E. Mr. Jan Peterson, current Ambassador of Norway to Austria and the Vienna-based IOs, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former National Chairman of the Conservative Party, for a guest speech under the auspices of the Chair for International, Legal and Global Political Studies by Chairman Prof. Dr. Anis Bajrektarevic.

After a warm welcome and brief introduction given by the Chairman Bajrektarevic, H.E. Ambassador Peterson opened his absorbing speech in the historic Baroque hall, by briefly introducing Norway in general, its similarities/differences with Austria, Norway’s relationship to the EU and its role in the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO).

Most of the time, however, was spent on the Nordic/Baltic cooperation, where H.E. Peterson gave us a very informative and comprehensive overview of the current Nordic and North Pole issues (including the Barents Sea).

Moreover, H.E. Ambassador Peterson touched the topic of Norway being a peace broker, talking about the Israeli/Palestinian peace-talks and the relative success of the Oslo accord in 1993, but also about the failure in peace negotiations during the Sri Lanka peace building mission.

The official part of this extraordinary event was closed with a very lively Q&A session and a family photo. Afterwards the students had the unique opportunity to address further questions to H.E. Ambassador Peterson and enjoy the very friendly, relaxed and familiar atmosphere.

The guest lecture of H.E. Ambassador Jan Peterson was the 91st event, and the 4th in the so-called Nordic Series, organized under the auspices of the Chairman Prof. Dr. Anis Bajrektarevic. The next in-house event will take place on the 15th November 2011, when Prof. Bajrektarevic is hosting H.E. Avis Shir-On, the Israeli Ambassador to Austria.

Text: Katharina K. (EXP 2009)
Photo: Max H. (EXP 2009)