Kjell Magne Bondevik
Prime Minister

(pronounced "shayll MANG-yeh bohn-de-VEEK")

"We have succeeded in creating a new debate about values in the country—in making a new family policy that makes it easier for parents to take care of children. We have started a more active policy regarding district and rural areas, and we have emphasized human rights more strongly in our foreign policy."

The Kingdom of Norway occupies the western portion of the Scandinavian peninsula. The country's northern regions are in the Arctic Circle and share a 167 km (104 mi) border with Russia, an important factor influencing Norwegian foreign policy. Norway also shares a long border with Sweden to the east, and its territory fronts Finland in the northeast. At the same time, Norway's long coastline looks west across the North Sea to Great Britain, and south toward Denmark. These geographic...