JOHN KERRY MEETS NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER BORGE BRENDE IN WASHINGTON DC

USPA NEWS - Secretary Kerry: "This is is a great pleasure for me because Børge Brende and I have become really good friends in the course of our work together. And Norway is such an extraordinary partner. There is nowhere or anything that is an issue where Norway is not playing a role".

NORWAY FOREIGN MINISTER ATTENDED COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMIST Børge Brende thanks John Kerry for his leadership and personal engagement in getting this coalition agaisnt ISIL. The strategy of is felt by Børge Brend set up in a good way by getting all the Arab countries on board, a new government in Baghdad which is more inclusive, and now starting the real fight against ISIL.------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Børge was here for our summit on Countering Violent Extremism. Norway is making major contributions to the Syria conflict, helping to provide humanitarian assistance. Norway is a critical partner with respect to the protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. We work with Norway on Middle East peace. They are constantly engaged in helping to both support the rights of Israelis to be free from violence, but also the rights of Palestinians to have a better life, to be able to receive the humanitarian aid that they need, and Minister Brende is constantly traveling to try to help leverage the values of Norway and the interests of Norway to help bring about stability and peace", And really, it is a pleasure for us to have a partner who is always so willing to step up on all of the major crises that we´re currently challenging said Secretary Kerry.--------------

Foreign Minister Brende answered to Secretary Kerry: "Thank you. Thank you, Secretary Kerry. Thank you, John. Thank you for the very kind words and thank you for your friendship. We have developed a genuine, close collaboration, U.S. being our most closest ally. This is important for us in a time where we see a new security landscape in Europe. We feel that what has taken place in Ukraine and the breach of international law is something very serious. And what we have agreed also in the NATO context when it comes to also making sure that all the allies are really reassured that we have a full NATO solidarity ““ I´m thinking about our Baltic friends ““ is very important ".-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Børge Brende continues about following to the « Minsk Plus » :"If there is any more violence of what has ““ violation of what has been agreed, it needs to have implications for Russia ".------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Also, the U.S. leadership and your personal commitment to a two-state solution and peace between Israel and Palestine is very important. And after the Israeli elections, I hope we can re-engage and see again new initiatives from the U.S. side. We will support as much as possible to set up the donor group for Palestine. And we will, of course, also follow up on Libya, on Maghreb, and all the present issues that you are seeing".----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Børge Brend recalls the invitation to John Kerry for chairmanship of the Arctic Council.---------------------------------------------- "We know you care so much about the environment, oceans, and the fight against climate change. And this U.S. chairmanship will be very imp.ortant. Thank you, and we are so much looking forward to welcoming you to Svalbardand“¦ also this frozen vessel into the ice that´s on the front page of National Geographic now ".---------------------------------------------------------------- Secretary Kerry thanked Brende minister and said he is also looking forward to traveling to Norway and being up in the north. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information see www.state.gov