Minister of Defence Grethe Faremo visited Djibouti. Seen here with ambassador Jens-Petter Kjemprud.Minister of Defence Grethe Faremo visits Djibouti
Last updated: 17.12.2009 //
The Norwegian Minister of Defence Grethe Faremo visited Djibouti 13 to 15 December and held talks with Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on bilateral as well as regional issues and visited the Norwegian frigate Fridtjov Nansen which takes part in the anti pirate operation Atalanta.
The Minister was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Harald Sunde and paid a full day and a nights visit to Fridtjov Nansen on duty in the Gulf of Aden. The Minister and her delegation arrived from Chad where they had visited Norwegian troops in the UN operation MINURSO and proceeded to Afghanistan to visit Norwegian troops in that country.
The meeting with Foreign Minister Youssouf focused on bilateral issues as well as climate change issues including the ongoing climate change summit in Copenhagen; Youssouf expressing hope for a positive outcome for hard hit Africa. Sub-regional issues like Somalia and Sudan were discussed in depth with a view to finding positive contributions to resolving the challenges. The Defence Minister acknowledged Djibouti’s constructive role in the Somali peace process and thanked Djibouti for it smooth and forthcoming assistance in facilitating the Norwegian naval ship’s participation in the anti piracy operation.