| NORWEGIAN AND SWEDISH AMBASSADORS TO SPEAK ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION AT THE HUMPHREY INSTITUTE APRIL 28 The Humphrey Institute and The Minnesota International Center (MIC) will co-sponsor
Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Knut Vollebæk and Swedish Ambassador
to the U.S. Jan Eliasson, for a public forum Thursday, April 28 from 3 to 4:30
p.m., in Cowles Auditorium. The event is part of MIC's Ambassador Series. Additional
sponsors include the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, The American Swedish
Institute, the Consulate General of Sweden and the Swedish Council of America.
The ambassadors are traveling throughout the United States in honor of the
100th anniversary of the peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden. Drawing
on their experiences in foreign affairs and the United Nations, Vollebæk
and Eliasson will discuss the role small countries have played and continue
to play in the peaceful resolution of some of the world's most intractable conflicts.
Vollebæk has been ambassador of Norway to the United States since 2001.
Previously, he was Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs and chaired the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1999, serving as a key negotiator
during the war in Kosovo. Active in the United Nations, Vollebæk served
as deputy co-chair of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia in 1993
and as director of United Nations Affairs from 1993 to 1994. Vollebæk
also served at Norwegian embassies in Costa Rica, India, Spain and Zimbabwe.
Eliasson has been Sweden's ambassador to the U.S. since September 2000. Prior
to his appointment, he was Sweden's Deputy Secretary of State for six years.
From 1988 to 1992, Eliasson was Sweden's Ambassador to the United Nations where
he also served as the Secretary General's personal representative on Iran/Iraq
(1988-92). He was involved in U.N. operations in Somalia, Sudan, Mozambique
and the Balkans. Eliasson was recently elected the next president of the United
Nations General Assembly, the first time this position has been held by a Swede.
Cost for this event is $5 for students, MIC members, and members of cosponsoring
organizations; $15 for the general public. Advance registration is required
via phone at (612) 625-4421 or online. |
