Idea of peace can be found in all religious manuscripts - ex Norwegian PM Bondevik
As a Prime Minister of Norway you had paid several visits to Kazakhstan back in 2004. This year you are visiting Kazakhstan as an honorary guest of the religious congress and have again met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev. And what kind of issues were discussed during your meeting with President Nazarbayev?
Yesterday I had a meeting with President N. Nazarbayev we might also met in 2004 and in different occasions in the years after. We discussed especially a few main issues: the importance of interreligious dialogue, the chairmanship of Kazakhstan in OSCE in 2010 and a nuclear weapon issue. I commented President N. Nazarbayev of that Kazakhstan gave up nuclear weapons arsenals after being independent. This was a good example for other countries. And we say this is a reason for the world free from nuclear weapons. We also discussed the issues of oil resources and use of Norway's' experience in creation of the national fund
What expectations do you have regarding the Chairmanship in OSCE for Kazakhstan next year?
Regarding the chairmanship in OSCE for Kazakhstan next year many of us have high expectations to Kazakhstan. Norway is one of the active members in OSCE. I understood from the President that other politicians from Kazakhstan have two main priorities for the charity. They are security and intercultural and interreligious dialogue. So this is in good line with original ideas of OSCE. As far as I remember back 20 years ago and I was a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway and when I was a Prime Minister 10 years later that I recall about three baskets of the cooperation within OSCE. These three baskets were security, economic cooperation and human issues, human relations among other religions.
Today the international community needs to be united and make active steps to develop new forms of international cooperation that will make it possible to overcome global imbalances. Will globalization result in unification of cultures, loss of moral and spiritual values?
Importance of the interreligious dialogue can not be overestimated. Because we know that religion is very often used or I would say is misused to stir up conflicts. And we must fight against such a misuse. The best way of doing that is to bring the people together across cultural, ethnic and religious boarders and differences. Then we can realize that human values are common, this matter has also been discussed at this conference. There can be values as human dignity which must also lead to the implementation of the basic human rights. It can be the idea of peace which can be found in all religious manuscripts, it is the idea of justice, both vertically towards God and horizontally between human beings. It's important that all participants of this conference when they go home to their own countries and congregations will convey this message of understanding and tolerance and implement these ideas. A pre-condition for interreligious dialogue is a freedom of belief; and also a freedom of expression and freedom of association. Because if you have a dialogue you must be free to practice your own praise and to express it and to assemble it to come together. And again I think there are high expectations to Kazakhstan as Chairman of OSCE next year to introduce and implement these values.
In one of you interviews you said, that one of "the most important project we have is: Islam and the Western countries -- what can we do in order to reduce tensions?" How can you comment the situation in Iran?
I think Europe still should play a role also regarding a dialogue about a nuclear issue with Iran. We know that President Obama has reached out he has another approach than previous President of US. I hope for concrete response from Iran to his willingness to the dialogue. Position not only to be a dialogue in nuclear issue may be it should start with more easier questions where they have common interests as Afghanistan, as a narco-traffic and other issues. That way may be like could confidence to deal with more delicate issues like a nuclear issue. Let me just say that I am also concerned regarding the latest development in Iran. And the demonstrations in the streets isn't it an expression that many people are disappointed and I think the government should listen to them and try to find a way where they can unite the people form Iran in a better way.
In connection with recent developments in North Korea, could you, please, give your comments on it?
As I have said before I do realize that there is a very difficult case. But we have no other choice as to focus on a nuclear issue also. I should say that I have been to North Korea myself to that post in the middle of 90-es as a member of parliamentary delegation. And I was also impressed by very serious number of human rights violations. What we have done is that we have launched a report on human rights situation in North Korea and most of the work was done by law firm which is international namely DLA. And during the 90-es one million people die of hunger partly because they refused to let international aid organization access to their country. We have a moral obligation to focus on the situation.
You are the founder of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights. I have known that your centre cooperates closely with the Carter Center in Atlanta, the Kim Dae Jung Library in Seoul and the Crisis Management Initiative in Helsinki. What is the purpose of such cooperation?
Let me first clarify that I am not working as the clergyman for the time being. I founded and I am the President for the office center for Peace and Human Rights but this is not a religious institution. The main of our stuff: we have different political use and different life stands. But as the center we are engaged in interreligious dialogue but not as a church or a religious institution. But as I indicated in the beginning my political background is very useful in this work. Partly because I know many who still are in office as presidents and prime ministers and very often the doors are open so we can reach that. And partly also because I have another central political background and I know the political process how this machine works in practice that is also important in highlight of interreligious dialogue and human rights, and democracy where we are working. And it can also be an advantage to have a religious background as I have because not many understand the religious language when we take part in interreligious dialogues like this year in Astana. And again I must say that I am very impressed by great development in Kazakhstan and especially changes in your young capital city Astana.
Kjell MagnBondevik was born in Molde, Norway. He became a theological candidate from MF Norwegian School of Theology in 1975. In 1979 he was ordained as pastor in the (Lutheran) Norwegian State Church.
Representing the Christian Democratic Party, Kjell Bondevik was a member of the Storting (Parliament) from 1973 to 2005. Bondevik was also Minister of Foreign Affairs in Jan P. Syse's government of 1989-1990, Minister of Church and Education in Kåre Willoch's government 1983-1986, also Prime Minister Willoch's deputy 1985-1986, and state secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister during Lars Korvald's government 1972-1973.Bondevik's first term as Prime Minister lasted from 17 October 1997 to 3 March 2000, in a coalition cabinet consisting of the Christian Democratic Party, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party. His cabinet during his second period in office, a coalition cabinet consisting of the Christian Democratic Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party, was appointed 19 October 2001, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg.
Kjell Bondevik was awarded the Grand Cross of St. Olav in 2004, the first sitting Norwegian Prime Minister to receive the Order of St. Olav in 80 years. The award happened due to a change in the Statutes of the Order with automatic awards to the Prime Minister and Ministers of the Government. Bondevik is an Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. He is also founder of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights.
Kjell Bondevik is married and has the three children, heis also the cousin of the Norwegian bishop Odd Bondevik.