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world news Diabierna 25 Maart 2022

NATO extends Stoltenberg term for a year due to Russia’s war

(AP) — With the threat mandate was due to expire in ing that he prioritizes con-
of wider conflict hanging September. tinuing in the important role
over Europe, NATO opt- he has in NATO,” Slagsvold
ed for stability on Thurs- In a tweet, Biden said that Vedum said.
day by extending Secre- Stoltenberg has “done a re-
tary-General Jens Stolten- markable job leading and Stoltenberg, 63, has described
berg’s term in office for an strengthening our Alliance Russia’s war on Ukraine as
extra year to help steer the — particularly during this “the most serious security
30-nation military alli- critical moment for interna- situation we have been in for
ance through the security tional security.” decades.”
crisis sparked by Russia’s
war on Ukraine. In February, Norway’s gov- Stoltenberg has been praised
ernment appointed Stolten- for steering NATO through
Stoltenberg tweeted Thurs- berg as head of the Scandi- a difficult and divisive period
day that he is “honored” by navian country’s central bank under the Trump administra-
the decision of NATO lead- and said it hoped he could tion, when the U.S. threat-
ers to extend his term until start in his new role around ened not to come to the aid Stoltenberg was twice prime Wolden Bache was due to be
Sept. 30, 2023. Dec. 1. of member countries that minister in Norway — from formally be named the cen-
weren’t spending enough on 2000 to 2001 and then again tral bank chief later Thursday
“As we face the biggest se- In Oslo, Finance Minister defense. from 2005 to 2013 — and he for a six-year term.
curity crisis in a generation, Trygve Slagsvold Vedum con- also served as finance minis-
we stand united to keep our firmed that Stoltenberg had Speaking to reporters on an ter, and industry and energy “Norges Bank has great re-
alliance strong and our peo- resigned from the job. Tem- Air Force One flight to Brus- minister. spect for Mr Stoltenberg’s
ple safe,” he said, after U.S. porary governor Ida Wolden sels on Wednesday, U.S. Na- decision made in the light of
President Joe Biden and his Bache has been nominated tional Security Advisor Jake Norwegian Prime Minister his very important responsi-
counterparts agreed to extend in his place and her appoint- Sullivan said Biden and Stol- Jonas Gahr Støre told Nor- bilities as Secretary General
his term at a summit in Brus- ment is expected to be con- tenberg have “developed a re- wegian news agency NTB of NATO,” she said.
sels. firmed later Thursday. lationship of trust.” that Stoltenberg had done
“a solid job” as NATO chief. Prior to Thursday’s an-
The former Norwegian “Of course I would like to see “Secretary-General Stolten- “Never before has the al- nouncement, speculation
prime minister was named Jens Stoltenberg become our berg has played an instru- liance been stronger, and had been rife that a woman
to NATO’s top civilian post next central bank governor, mental role in helping secure never before in the alliance’s would be named at the helm
in October 2014. It’s the sec- but we are in the middle of a the powerful unity you’ve history has unity been more of the world’s biggest secu-
ond time that his term of of- dramatic situation in Europe seen at NATO through this important.” rity organization for the first
fice has been extended. His and I have great understand- crisis,” Sullivan said time.

EU agrees on Russia sanctions so far, but energy divides

(AP) — The European war, EU nations imposed homes warm and the wheels EU’s executive arm, has pro-
Union preserved a sense of tough measures targeting of industry turning. He reflected the position of posed slashing the bloc’s de-
rarely seen unity through Russia’s economy and fi- EU nations like Germany, pendency on Russian gas by
four rounds of unprec- nancial system as well as “We are not at war with our- Austria and the Netherlands. two-thirds this year. The EU
edented sanctions against President Vladimir Putin and selves,” Belgian Prime Min- They are running up against is in talks with the U.S. to en-
Russia over its invasion of Russian oligarchs. ister Alexander De Croo said other member states situated sure extra deliveries of lique-
Ukraine. But at a summit at the summit in Brussels, closer to Russia that want fied natural gas and have also
Thursday, the 27 leaders Unlike the U.S., they have where sanctions and energy tougher action now. started discussions with other
faced division on the big- so far spared Russian fossil were key topics. “Sanctions suppliers.
gest issue of all: energy. fuels, highlighting the EU’s must always have a much “As long as we are purchasing
reliance on the country’s oil, bigger impact on the Russian energy from Russia, we are Maria Zakharova, spokes-
During the first month of natural gas and coal to keep side than on ours.” financing the war, and this woman for the Russian For-
is the big problem that we eign Ministry, said Thursday
have,” Finland Prime Minis- that European nations that
ter Sanna Marin said. don’t want to work with Rus-
sia on energy should “just tell
She was joined by Baltic their citizens who is destroy-
leaders in demanding swift ing their prosperity and how.
action. We will cooperate with those
who are interested in ensur-
“We have to continue to iso- ing their own energy secu-
late Putin’s economy — Rus- rity.”
sia’s economy — to stop the
money flowing into the war High energy prices triggered
machine,” Latvian Prime by a supply crunch in Europe
Minister Krisjanis Karins told have for months triggered
reporters. “The most logical rising energy bills and prices
place to move forward is in at the pump, worsening as
oil and coal.” the war has jolted energy
markets.
The EU imports 90% of the
natural gas used to generate Last year, the EU’s imports
electricity, heat homes and of Russian goods were worth
supply industry, with Russia 158.5 billion euros, with
supplying almost 40% of EU mineral fuels accounting for
gas and a quarter of its oil. 62%, or 98.9 billion euros,
according to the European
Instead of an embargo, the Commission.
European Commission, the