26 April, 2006
Norway is standing by its decision to grant visa to two Hamas lawmakers despite objections from the US. The government has rebuffed US pressure to cancel a planned visit in May by a Palestinian Authority parliamentary delegation, which is to include two members of the Islamist group and will meet a local pro-Palestinian organization. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said members of his office would take the opportunity to hold talks with the delegates. “Norway’s government has not invited Hamas to Norway, but if people with a Hamas background come here, we will meet with them,” Stoere told reporters in Oslo. Norway is not a member of the European Union, which, like the United States, lists Hamas as a terrorist group. The Hamas delegates are to also visit neighboring Sweden, but not to hold official talks.
