Invitation Speech to the Mayors’ Meeting in Oslo on 26-27 May 2005

My Lord Mayor, dear friends and colleagues.

On behalf of the Mayor of Oslo, Per Ditlev-Simonsen, I take great pleasure in inviting you to attend the ECAD Mayors’ Conference in Oslo on May 26th – 27th 2005.
Oslo has been an active participant in the European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD) since the organisation was established in 1993, and was one of the cities to sign the Stockholm Resolution in April 1994. Throughout this period we have been a member of the Advisory Board, and have benefited greatly from our association with the network of European towns and cities in the fight against the problems caused by narcotics.
Norway has always had a restrictive narcotics policy, both nationally and at local community level. One expression of this is that sentencing frameworks have been tightened as the inflow of narcotics has increased and new and even more dangerous compounds have been introduced. The manufacture and sale of illegal narcotics is punishable by fines or terms of imprisonment of up to 21 years.
Despite an active and vigorous effort to combat illegal narcotics both nationally and in our local community, we are witness to that the problem continues to grow. The narcotics environments are becoming harder and more aggressive, and we are faced with a public narcotics environment in the same way as other European cities.
Against this background we wish the theme of the Mayors’ Conference in Oslo next year to focus on: ”The Narcotics Industry and its Victims – A restrictive policy and humane support and help initiatives”.
It is our wish to put the spotlight on the cynical machinations of this industry with illustrations of its international activities. We also wish to focus on the victims of the narcotics industry by presenting a number of support and help initiatives, both public and by private organisations.
We hope to be able to illustrate a number of different approaches to support and help initiatives for the victims of drug abuse, with a basis in the ECAD’s objective of promoting a restrictive narcotics policy and encouraging cities to debate on these issues.
I started by saying that participation in the ECAD network has been important for Oslo. During the time we have been engaged in the organisation, we have concentrated on two areas:
1 A dedicated ECAD plan of action, adopted by Oslo City Council, that encompasses a total of 10 strategies and a number of initiatives designed to provide information to prevent children and youths from starting on the road to the misuse of narcotics.
2 We have also organised ”Norwegian Towns Against Narcotics”, a network organisation consisting of the Norwegian members of ECAD. We have, among other initiatives, held annual conferences with the member towns. We share experiences and initiatives with each other.
We are currently working to recruit more towns and communitites to the network. Oslo has been responsible for this work for the last five years, and the task has now passed to Bergen.
The work of preventing children and youth from experimenting with narcotics is among the most important work at local level. The City of Oslo spends approximately 100 million Norwegian kroner annually on information, campaigns, meeting places as a stimulant-free alternative, direct contact with children and youth in risk-exposed groups and environments (youth clubs, cafés and so forth) and control and inspection work. This is in itself not enough, but it must be seen in connection with the tremendous efforts made by voluntary organisations, such as sports and athletics organisations and the Red Cross.
It is not least important to recognise that the best private measure against narcotics is an active policy to promote a good environment in which children can grow up and good living conditions for families.
This brings me to this year’s Mayors’ Meeting here on Cyprus. It has been an interesting meeting, where the importance of family has in fact been a centre of focus. I would like to take this opportunity to offer a vote of thanks to Mayors’ Meeting for and interesting and successful conference.
At the same time, I repeat my invitation to come to Oslo on May 26th and 27th next year. Oslo has approximately 600,000 citizens. Not a major city, but one that has developed through the years into an exciting venue for citizens and tourists. The month of May is known for its fair share of good weather. We would like to introduce you to some of Oslo’s many attractions by showing you a video.
2005 will be a very special year for Norway. We will celebrate the centenary of our independence. In 1905 we gained our independence from Sweden – in the Norwegian way, wisely, and without violence. The Mayors’ meeting in Oslo will signal the start of the national celebrations, which will be held between June 3rd and June 13th.

Welcome to Oslo!

 
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