Head of the Belarusian coalition of opposition, Aleksandr Milinkevich, right, today met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of International Development Erik Solheim. The Foreign Minister said that following Milinkevich´s meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday, the Norwegian government agreed to extend the financial support to civil society, human rights organisations and independent media in Belarus. He suggested to channel the support through the Norwegian Helsinki Committe, which has worked in Belarus for years and has an extensive network of contacts in civil society. (21-APR-06)

Text and photos: Norwegian Helsinki Committee

– We are happy to be able to further extend the the support we have provided for more than a decade, says Helsinki Committee Secretary General Bjørn Engesland.

On the site of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee more articles can be read about Milinkevich´s visit to Norway:
Media conference and seminar: Belarus – time for change?
Prime Minister Stoltenberg: – All countries must support the work for democracy in Belarus

Stoltenberg og Milinkevich.jpg
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Alexander Milinkevich.