Afghanistan has suddenly become the largest recipient of humanitarian & development assistance from Norway, and the host of the largest group of Norwegian soldiers deployed outside the country. This happens despite few historical ties and little interaction between our two countries. The Nansen Academy at Lillehammer is organizing a Dialogue Seminar where the participants will discuss the impact of civil and military operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo/Serbia. (14-AUG-07)
Written by Nina Luhr/ HRH Foundation
The seminar is from 15 to 18 August and here you may read the tentative program and a list of Participants. Some of the background for organizing this seminar is that Norway manoeuvres with a minimum of factual knowledge about the environment for our civil and military engagement. With the Norwegian participation in the NATO air attacks on Kosovo/Serbia 1999, and the employment of combatant forces in Afghanistan, we embarked on a new and different use of military force. This historically new type of military engagement for Norway raises important ethical, legal and political questions.
Lack of knowledge
The public debate on these issues in Norway has just started, and is characterised by a lack of knowledge about the situation in these countries, a lack of normative reflections on these important strategic choices and even a lack of dialogue where people meet and share their very different opinions in a tranquil atmosphere.
Unique attempt
The Nansen Academy’s dialogue seminar is the first attempt in Norway to gather a comprehensive group of experts and decision makers for a seminar on this set of issues. We aim to provide more exact information on the present situation in Afghanistan, particularly on the impact of the NATO intervention, to summarise the experience from the intervention and the present situation in Kosovo/Serbia. And we want to raise the basic questions on the legality and normative principles that applies to these kind of military interventions and to involve top Norwegian decision makers and experts with representatives from Afghanistan and Serbia/Kosovo in a dialogue on future choices.
Results
The results of the seminar will be summed up for the whole seminar when embarking on the last two days. These days will discuss the normative foundation for these types of military interventions, in legal and ethical terms. The seminar will as a final point discuss future strategy and politics for Norway and NATO in these areas.
