Norway : The Prime Minister of New York for meetings of the UN Security Council

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre traveled to New York on 23 January to chair two meetings of the Security Council during the Norwegian Presidency in January. The Prime Minister will also meet the UN Secretary-General, as well as visit Equinor's offshore wind project and meet the people behind the Norwegian Oscar-winning film "The World's Worst Man".

Urban warfare, Afghanistan

The Prime Minister will lead an open debate in the Security Council on the protection of civilians in urban warfare on Tuesday 25 January. It is the last Norwegian signature event during Norway's presidency of the Security Council in January.

Warfare in densely populated areas creates enormous and unacceptable human suffering, which we must seek to prevent. Norway, together with the other members of the Security Council, wants to discuss what we can do to better protect civilians when armed conflicts are fought in cities and densely populated areas, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre.

The Prime Minister will also chair a meeting of the Security Council on Afghanistan the following day. The meeting is important both because the international community must do what is possible to avert the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, but also because the Security Council will soon be negotiating a new mandate for the UN's presence in Afghanistan.

UN Secretary-General

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres has agreed to open both of these meetings. The Prime Minister also has a separate meeting with the Secretary-General where a discussion is planned on the most current global challenges and the need for strengthened international cooperation.

I look forward to meeting Guterres and discussing with him how we and the UN member states through strengthened international cooperation can best solve today's global challenges. His vision for his second term as Secretary General is inspiring and strategically important, says the Prime Minister.

Equinor recently signed a contract with the state of New York for offshore wind projects off the east coast of the United States. The Prime Minister will visit the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which will be the landing site for electricity generated from these major offshore wind projects.

Norway and New York have common ambitions in renewable energy and green growth. I am proud that Equinor is a significant partner in New York's ambitious commitment to renewable energy and look forward to learning more about the projects, says Gahr Stre.

The first electricity from Equinor's three offshore wind projects will be delivered from 2025, and according to Equinor, the projects will together produce electricity corresponding to the needs of around two million households, contributing $ 4.5 billion in value creation and 5,200 jobs in the state of New York.

The Prime Minister will also meet with New York Mayor Eric Adams, where topics include sustainable change and technological solutions to climate challenges.

"The World's Worst Man"

In the spring of 2021, "The World's Worst Man", the third film in director Joachim Trier's Oslo trilogy, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The film received rave reviews, and actress Renate Reinsve was the first Norwegian to win the award for best actress.

The film is highly regarded for an Oscar nomination and will be released in American cinemas on February 4. Both director Trier, actor Reinsve and producer Andrea Berentsen Ottmar are in New York in connection with the launch.

It is fantastic to be able to meet the people behind the critically acclaimed film "The World's Worst Man". The film's success shows that it is possible for the Norwegian film industry to have international ambitions. I wish them good luck with the launch and cross their fingers for the Oscar nomination.

The nominations for Oscar will be announced on February 8. The award ceremony will take place on 27 March.