Just as I was starting to like you oneill. You really need to say enough already with these infantile attacks.
The article says a lot but has not much in the way of substance, indeed the most stinging quote is this;
"A member of a Centre-Left government that took power three years ago, Mr Store said comparisons between Norway and Scotland have some clear limitations. He added: “Norway has been an independent state for more than 100 years. We are integrated into the international community, from the UN to Nato, and Norway as a state entity relates to other states.’"
Apologies from Unionists all round? No, probably not. That would be too much to ask for.
Sir,
The article "Salmond Slapped down by Norway Minister" in the Daily Mail on 29 October contained several incorrect and misleading statements attributed to Norway's Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre.
Firstly, there is no "growing anger in Norway" over comparisons made between Scotland and Norway during the debate in the United Kingdom against the backdrop of the current global financial crisis.
Secondly, no accusations have been made by Mr Støre against Mr Salmond, as alleged in the article. In the interview, the Foreign Minister merely pointed out factual similarities and differences between the challenges presently faced by Scotland and Norway. Inferring from this that Mr Støre is of the view that Mr Salmond has in any way lied or mislead the public, is simply incorrect.
In short, the Norwegian Foreign Minister did not intend to criticise either side in this debate, which is a domestic political discussion. What he strongly emphasised in the interview with the Daily Mail and which, sadly, was simply omitted from the article, was his sincere appreciation of the warm ongoing relationship between Scotland and Norway.
Yours sincerely, Bjarne Lindstrøm Ambassador of Norway
Now, then, first of all, apologies for not putting original link to Telegraph article.
Secondly, according to Telegraph article and not subsequently denied by Norway’s ambassador:
1."Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian foreign minister, said it took three decades for the country's investment in its oil and gas sector to reap dividends and hardly any of the proceeds are used to prop up the economy, as they would in a separate Scotland."
2."He rejected Mr Salmond's claim that Norway had bailed out its banking sector, an argument the First Minister has used to counter claims that an independent Scotland could have rescued Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland."
3."But Mr Store, a member of a Centre-Left government that took power three years ago, said very little oil and gas revenue goes to the Norwegian exchequer, with the money instead going into "a pension fund that will be used for our children and grandchildren.""
4.""Arguing that "comparisons between Norway and Scotland have some clear limitations", he added: "Norway has been an independent state for more than 100years." "We started with major investments in oil and gas in the early 1970s and it was only in the late 1990s that it went into surplus.""
6."The First Minister has repeatedly pointed to a £35billion bond issue by the Norwegian government as evidence that small, independent nations can cope in the current financial crisis. But Mr Store said the action was completely different from Westminster's £37billion rescue package for RBS, HBOS and Lloyds TSB, a deal that Gordon Brown has claimed an independent Scotland would not have been able to match."
6. ""Mr Store said: "I would be upset to think Norway's experience has become a source of division or strife between friends in other countries.""
Has any of this been denied in the subsequent letter? If it has, then I will issue an apology.
What is interesting and a point I would wholeheartedly agree with his, is the point that this is a "domestic" discussion" ie between the UK government and Salmond, his attempts at internationalising the "independence" question with his rather bizarre comparisons with countries that have very little in common with Scotland was foolhardy and in his own interest should be quietly forgotten about asap.
Let's, instead, see more of this kind of cooperation: http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/secretary-of-state-blog/?p=52
I've seen that self-same spelling mistake somewhere else over the last couple of days, now let me think where...
It wasn't a bad link, it was a non-existent link, in fact, I've probably baffled a few people today with omitting it--- youse all could still have read Scottish Unionist anyhows!!!
Up there in all it's glory now, I'm happy to let my public decide who speaks with forked tongue;)
6 comments:
Just as I was starting to like you oneill. You really need to say enough already with these infantile attacks.
The article says a lot but has not much in the way of substance, indeed the most stinging quote is this;
"A member of a Centre-Left government that took power three years ago, Mr Store said comparisons between Norway and Scotland have some clear limitations. He added: “Norway has been an independent state for more than 100 years. We are integrated into the international community, from the UN to Nato, and Norway as a state entity relates to other states.’"
Wouldn't independence sort this out?
Letter from Norwegian Ambassador to Daily Mail.
Apologies from Unionists all round? No, probably not. That would be too much to ask for.
Sir,
The article "Salmond Slapped down by Norway Minister" in the Daily Mail on 29 October contained several incorrect and misleading statements attributed to Norway's Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre.
Firstly, there is no "growing anger in Norway" over comparisons made between Scotland and Norway during the debate in the United Kingdom against the backdrop of the current global financial crisis.
Secondly, no accusations have been made by Mr Støre against Mr Salmond, as alleged in the article. In the interview, the Foreign Minister merely pointed out factual similarities and differences between the challenges presently faced by Scotland and Norway. Inferring from this that Mr Støre is of the view that Mr Salmond has in any way lied or mislead the public, is simply incorrect.
In short, the Norwegian Foreign Minister did not intend to criticise either side in this debate, which is a domestic political discussion. What he strongly emphasised in the interview with the Daily Mail and which, sadly, was simply omitted from the article, was his sincere appreciation of the warm ongoing relationship between Scotland and Norway.
Yours sincerely,
Bjarne Lindstrøm
Ambassador of Norway
Now, then, first of all, apologies for not putting original link to Telegraph article.
Secondly, according to Telegraph article and not subsequently denied by Norway’s ambassador:
1."Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian foreign minister, said it took three decades for the country's investment in its oil and gas sector to reap dividends and hardly any of the proceeds are used to prop up the economy, as they would in a separate Scotland."
2."He rejected Mr Salmond's claim that Norway had bailed out its banking sector, an argument the First Minister has used to counter claims that an independent Scotland could have rescued Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland."
3."But Mr Store, a member of a Centre-Left government that took power three years ago, said very little oil and gas revenue goes to the Norwegian exchequer, with the money instead going into "a pension fund that will be used for our children and grandchildren.""
4.""Arguing that "comparisons between Norway and Scotland have some clear limitations", he added: "Norway has been an independent state for more than 100years."
"We started with major investments in oil and gas in the early 1970s and it was only in the late 1990s that it went into surplus.""
6."The First Minister has repeatedly pointed to a £35billion bond issue by the Norwegian government as evidence that small, independent nations can cope in the current financial crisis.
But Mr Store said the action was completely different from Westminster's £37billion rescue package for RBS, HBOS and Lloyds TSB, a deal that Gordon Brown has claimed an independent Scotland would not have been able to match."
6. ""Mr Store said: "I would be upset to think Norway's experience has become a source of division or strife between friends in other countries.""
Has any of this been denied in the subsequent letter? If it has, then I will issue an apology.
What is interesting and a point I would wholeheartedly agree with his, is the point that this is a "domestic" discussion" ie between the UK government and Salmond, his attempts at internationalising the "independence" question with his rather bizarre comparisons with countries that have very little in common with Scotland was foolhardy and in his own interest should be quietly forgotten about asap.
Let's, instead, see more of this kind of cooperation: http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/secretary-of-state-blog/?p=52
You really need to say enough already with these infantile attacks.
This is a Unionist blog, if Salmond makes himself look a fool, I'll be continuing to point it out and if that turns folk off reading then so be it.
Even if you are now regularly caught out using bad links containing gross exagerations, half truths and lies in your quest? Come come!
Propoganda blog?
Propoganda blog?
I've seen that self-same spelling mistake somewhere else over the last couple of days, now let me think where...
It wasn't a bad link, it was a non-existent link, in fact, I've probably baffled a few people today with omitting it--- youse all could still have read Scottish Unionist anyhows!!!
Up there in all it's glory now, I'm happy to let my public decide who speaks with forked tongue;)
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