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Norway closing embassy here, but projects will continue
View(s):Norway’s embassy in Colombo is among five diplomatic missions that have become a casualty of the changing landscape in Europe in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Accordingly, as a wider restructuring of its Foreign Service, Norway will close its embassies in Bratislava (Slovakia), Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Pristina (Kosovo), the embassy office in Antananarivo (Madagascar) and the Consulate General in Houston (USA) next year.
The closures are a result of Norway moving forward to establish a stronger diplomatic presence in Europe by increasing its staff at missions in European nations.
Though the Colombo embassy is to close next year, Norway’s ongoing projects in Sri Lanka are likely to continue unchanged, the Norwegian Embassy said in a response to a query by the Sunday Times.
Norwegian development assistance goes through three main channels: Projects managed by the embassy, projects managed by the development agency, Norad, and projects managed directly by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition to the humanitarian support recently provided to the UN, the largest Norwegian development assistance projects include support to demining conducted by the HALO Trust and MAG (Mines Advisory Group), support to food security and employment through ILO, support to Caritas for food security and home gardening, support to UNDP’s SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 16 portfolio, and technical support provided to the fisheries sector.
“It is fully possible to continue development cooperation with Sri Lanka even without a locally based embassy. In other countries, we have maintained significant aid cooperation even though our physical presence has ended. Ongoing projects are likely to continue unchanged,” the embassy said.
“One of our ongoing projects was already slated to be transferred to our development agency, Norad. Other projects may be transferred to be managed by another Norwegian Embassy in the region,” the embassy added.
A decision will be made in due time regarding arrangements for consular services for Norwegian citizens. An Honorary Consul may be appointed for the provision of such services in Sri Lanka, while the formal responsibility will shift to another Norwegian Embassy in the region, according to the embassy.
“It is never easy to decide to close Norwegian missions. Closures such as these affect the lives of posted Norwegian diplomats and have even greater consequences for the locally employed staff. But we have a responsibility to use our resources in a way that enables us to safeguard Norwegian interests as effectively as possible,” Norway’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said.
“Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has sought to promote European solidarity and closer cooperation on security and defence. So it makes good sense for us to strengthen Norway’s diplomatic presence in the EU, NATO and selected European countries. The world never stops changing, and the Norwegian Foreign Service must be prepared to change with it,” Ms Huitfeldt said.
Accordingly, next year, the number of diplomatic staff will be increased at the Norwegian embassies in Bucharest, Kiev and Vilnius, as well as the Mission of Norway to the EU and Norway’s Permanent Delegation to NATO in Brussels.
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