Parliamentary Assembly

Distinguished members of the Parliamentary Assembly, it is a great pleasure for me to be back here in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In the past, I have, as mentioned by the President, served as a member of this Assembly, and I still have many good friends among the Representatives. I also have many happy memories from my years in the Assembly, and I follow your work with keen interest.

Many people, when they talk about Europe, are usually only thinking about the European Union. But the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe are important because they focus on areas of policy that the EU does not give such weight to – areas that deepen the understanding between the countries of our continent. These two bodies also include a number of countries that are not members of the EU. As regards the Council of Europe, this applies to twenty countries. That makes the Council of Europe an important meeting place between established and new democracies and a vital arena for fostering a common understanding of the values that are essential for the development of democracy and respect for human rights.

As a founding member of the Council of Europe, Norway is a firm believer in the Organisation, and strongly supports its activities. During our chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers we will do our utmost to further strengthen this Organisation and help it adapt to new and changing realities. I believe that the Council of Europe needs to be open to reform and change, so that it can perform its tasks as effectively as possible. We should focus on the Organisation’s core values and areas of expertise.

First of all, we must focus on the European Court of Human Rights. That body has been and is the key institution in European efforts to advance human rights. Reform is vital to guaranteeing its effectiveness. We must now take immediate action to ensure that the necessary reforms are carried out. The Court’s longterm effectiveness can only be guaranteed if we, the member states, make substantial efforts to reduce its workload. I therefore also encourage you, the parliamentarians, to initiate the relevant changes at national level.

Secondly, the Council of Europe must seek to renew and strengthen its relations with other organisations. We have much to gain from improving the co-ordination of activities with the OSCE and the European Union. We need effective co-operation and co-ordination, not unnecessary competition. Only through a constructive dialogue with the other organisations will we be able to succeed. That will also ensure more visibility for the Council of Europe and its activities, and will attract more attention to it.

Thirdly – and this is close to my heart – there is the need for dialogue and in particular dialogue between cultures and between religions. History has shown us that nations and cultures are interdependent. A uniform society cannot endure. Tolerance and the exchange of ideas, goods and people are key factors for change, development and peace. We should not let differences in culture or beliefs take a negative direction, and develop into conflict.

Extremists and populist movements are exploiting people’s fear of “those who are not like us”. We can see the consequences in the form of terrorism and racially motivated violence. To fight terrorism more effectively, we need to know about its root causes. In my opinion, fanaticism and hatred are root causes. They are often the result of humiliation and fear, which come from ignorance, frustration and an insecure identity. Extremists often try to spread the message of hate in the name of God; yet nothing is further from true faith than hatred. On the contrary, those who have a strong faith are often better able to understand and respect the beliefs of others. That is tolerance.

I am convinced that by discussing the similarities and differences between the various religions, we will be able to identify common values such as respect for what is sacred, for human dignity and for reconciliation.

In some of my travels abroad I have had meetings with the leaders of a number of different religions. I have done this in Sarajevo, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Cairo, New York and Geneva. In many conflicts religion is regarded as part of the problem. In my view, it should be the other way around. Religion must become part of the solution. A harmonious relationship between religions does not in itself resolve conflicts, but in some conflict-ridden areas it can pave the way for lasting, peaceful political solutions – not only in the Middle East and the Balkans, but also in Africa and on other continents.

The Council of Europe promotes democracy, human rights and good governance in our part of the world. We have a unique set of common values: human dignity, the rule of law, mutual respect and reconciliation. These values are vital in supporting reconciliation and preventing conflicts.

Dear fellow politicians, as political leaders we must do our utmost to promote and protect these fundamental values. As political leaders we should use a humanistic approach to break down religious and cultural barriers that have been erected between peoples, societies and individuals. We should take responsibility for helping to build bridges between the different faiths and cultures. We should promote dialogue and tolerance.

There has always been cultural diversity in Europe, but in our time – in the era of globalisation – changes are occurring faster than ever before. Even countries with traditionally homogeneous populations, like my own country, have become increasingly multicultural. This development has great possibilities, but it also challenges us to take the initiative to promote understanding.

Fourthly, countless children in the world today are being raised in an atmosphere of hatred and intolerance. Countless children are being denied their basic human rights. Let us make sure that our children know their rights. Let us teach our children that Europe stands for harmony, not conflict; for co-operation and co-existence, not alienation and hostility.

Our children are our future. We must promote sound values in our schools. Our schools must therefore foster tolerance and understanding; they must be a means of combating hatred and fear of those who are different. At school, pupils must learn compassion and consideration for others.

The English clergyman – I am myself a clergyman – and writer Dean Inge put it thus: “The aim of education is in the knowledge not of facts, but of values”. Education has a great potential to achieve concrete improvements in our societies. As the American writer James Baldwin put it: “The paradox of education is precisely this – that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which one is being educated.”

It is important to promote systematic information on how knowledge of different cultures and religions can contribute to the development of mutual understanding and respect. The Council of Europe has an important role to play in these efforts. I suggest that this could be an important topic in the preparations for the next Council of Europe summit.

Two weeks ago, we hosted a Council of Europe conference in Oslo on the religious dimension in intercultural education. By discussing similarities and differences between the various religions, we will be able to identify common values such as respect for human dignity and reconciliation, and the commandment of love and sound stewardship.

In 1997 we introduced the subject “Christianity and general religious and moral education” in Norwegian schools. This subject aims at giving the pupils knowledge and understanding of different religions and faiths. It shall pass on traditions and preserve religious identity, as well as build bridges that lead to insight, tolerance and dialogue. The objective is to contribute to mutual tolerance and respect for different views and beliefs.

Every society must work continuously to ensure that mutual respect and trust are the defining values in every aspect of society – cultural, social, ethnic and religious. At the international level, this objective must be achieved through discussions, agreements and the exchange of information.

Through education we can build bridges between different faiths and cultures. Through education we can build understanding and respect for different religions and cultures. Let us therefore today give the Council of Europe a leading role in these efforts.

My fifth and last point is the need to work together and build networks. Since the last time that Norway held the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers – in 1989, when I was Norway’s Foreign Minister – the number of member countries of the Council of Europe has doubled. A comprehensive network of co-operation has been established, which is based on almost 200 Council of Europe conventions. These deal with a large number of areas, such as legal co-operation, social cohesion, human rights, the media, education, health, culture, youth, local co-operation and the environment. In other words, this broad network is assuring the fundamental rights of 800 million citizens.

The strength of this co-operation is that we can contribute to improving norms and standards through the exchange of views, and through consultations and negotiations. In these efforts, the Council of Europe is able to draw on a large number of ministries and experts in the member countries.

It is reassuring that we have strong elected bodies to support the work of the Council of Europe. Both the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe are, in Norway’s opinion, driving forces in our Organisation. Let me mention improving guidelines for the intergovernmental sectors of the Council of Europe, and the important initiatives that have been taken on new conventions and major topical issues. Also, the Parliamentary Assembly’s monitoring activities are widely respected and appreciated.

I firmly believe that the Council of Europe has a unique role to play in preventing conflict and creating stability.

In summing up, let us strengthen the European Court of Human Rights, while also making substantial efforts to reduce the Court’s workload. Let us renew and strengthen the co-operation with other international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Union. Let us take new and bold initiatives for dialogue between different cultures and religions. And let us have a focus on education. Finally, let us build strong and effective networks.

Dear members of the Assembly, you can count on Norway’s support. During our chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, we will do our utmost to help strengthen this Organisation, and the values and norms that it represents.