CLICK PLAY VISION OF IRAN VIDEO

Seal of the Foreign Ministry

 THE FOREIGN MINISTRY

AMBASSADOR ALI AHANI

"NORWAY WAS ONE OF THE LAST COUNTRIES IN EUROPE  TO ESTABLISH GOOD AND SUSTAINABLE TIES WITH THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN"

Ambassador to Europe and America, the present Ambassador to Paris, the sencond time, His Excellency Ali Ahani and Harald Dahle-Sladek in Dr. Ahani's office in the Foreign Ministry Tehran, April 2002.

Picture below from the video during the interview. From Left, the translator, Ambassador Ali Ahani and Editor-in-Chief Harald Dahle-Sladek. (C)2002 Harald Dahle Oslo.

 Harald Dahle-Sladek

Editor-in-Chief

In 2000 Norway finally entered the Islamic Republic of Iran. Then, the Foreign Department in Tehran had waited for twenty years or more wondering why Norway, with its specialized deep-water technologies, had not come and helped Iran to build the South Pars project, and other offshore and onshore projects.

When I arrived the Foreign Department in Tehran in April 2002 the mood was somber, to say the least. Ambassador Ali Ahani was angry. The Norwegian Foreign Department had for years played on both sides of the street cultivating contacts with opposition groups to Iran, like the Mujahidin Kalk MEK. The attitude from the Norwegians had been cordial, but stiff, and had not reflected the greatness in the Iranian culture and its people. Tehran was very hurt.

Dahle-Sladek: -With regards to Norway and Iran relations Ambassador Ahani, I notice some slight irritation on your part, why is that?

Ali-Ahani: -In fact, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Norway have many opportunities. In addition to the economic and industrial cooperation we have oil and gas. I would like to emphasize the importance for us to finalize the oil and gas projects in the South along the Persian Gulf, as well as in the Caspian Sea. Norway and Iran are two important oil producing countries and can cooperate and coordination in the world oil market and stabilize oil prices, which would be in the interest of both oil producers and oil consumers.

Dahle-Sladek: -You mentioned that the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Pettersen's visit to Tehran was a kind of watershed. Could you please explain that?

Ali-Ahani: In fact, in the past years, our relations lacked the sufficient momentum to further expand our relations. And in fact, compared to other countries in Europe, our relations with Norway were lagging behind. The visit of your Foreign Minister to Tehran show the firm determination of your country for the expansion of the relations with Iran. And certainly, there is such a political will and enthusiasm on the part of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran!

Dahle-Sladek: -Thank you Dr. Ahani.

A prelude to Catastrophe

Norway’s entering into the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2000 became a prelude to the worst diplomatic and industrial disaster the country had ever experienced. Only overshadowed by its nightmarish relations to Peoples Republic of China, in 2010 after the Norwegian parliament-appointed Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize to the incarcerated Chinese human rights activist, Liu Xiabo.

  Iran Daily from November 25, 2000

Foreign Minister Norway Jan Pettersen (2002-2005)