In a meeting with President Evo Morales yesterday, the Norwegian environment and development minister, Erik Solheim, offered his country’s collaboration in helping to manage Bolivia’s oil and gas resources. This includes assistance in reducing the effects of hydrocarbon production on the environment.
Noting Norway’s success in working with private companies while maintaining state control over its hydrocarbon resources, Morales welcomed the offer and acknowledged that Norway has much to teach Bolivia.
Morales was also praised by Solheim for his efforts on climate change, who called the International People’s Summit on Climate Change held in Cochabamba, Bolivia this past April an “inspiring” effort to achieve a broad agreement on climate change. Solheim further noted that Morales’ call to defend the rights of “Mother Earth” coincided with Norway’s position on the environment. However, he stated that compromises and consensus on the issue would only be achieved through a pragmatic approach.
Morales’s visit to Norway also included an audience with King Harald V at the Royal Palace in Oslo as well as a meeting with Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
