In terms of your own leadership, at the ministry, what would you say are your special concerns, and also your special leadership attributes?

In conjunction with WSSD in Johannesburg Norway's main focus has been on getting concrete deliverables for the poor and for the environment. It is imperative that Johannesburg becomes a Rio+10, also in relation to commitments, not a Rio-10.

How would you articulate Norway's current policy concerning international development assistance?

That's a very broad question. It covers almost everything. In March this year, Norway launched an action plan on poverty eradication. In this plan we are addressing five major areas we need to see progress on in order to create sustainable development for the poor. This our own national follow-up plan in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals. The five areas are: Increased develoment assistance, market access for poor countries' products in rich countriesí markets, further debt reduction, increased investment flows in poor markets, and better governace and anti-corruption polices in poor countries. We will continue to support poor countriesí strategies for reducing poverty. Norway will put special emphasis on the three sectors that to the largest extent reach the poor, health, education,and agriculture.

What about the private sector's cooperation?

This is very important in order to spur development. We have to see increased investment flows into poor markets. The MDGs can never be achieved only through an increase in ODA. That's clear. Much more efforts have to be made in private sector development in the south. However, any offical suport to spur investments in poor countries should be open for free and fair competition and be untied. In addition, Norway believes that there is much to gain in better donor coordination.

Do you see in the Norwegian domestic public any kind of diminishing of a commitment to this kind of internationalism on Norway's part, or is the domestic consensus still holding pretty well?

I would say the domestic support for our high level of development assistance is holding pretty well. A newly released opinion poll shows that 88 percent of the Norwegian population supports an increase or keeping a status quo of the current level of development assistance. Today Norway gives 0.92 percent of our GDP to development assistance.

Your articulation of Norway's own objectives is very clear. What role do you expect to play at Johannesburg?

Well, I think one of the must crucial things we have to ensure is that there's no walking back. By that I mean, we cannot undermine the principles and the results, and the achievements we made in Rio and onwards. And I think the second message is that we have to get further. We must build on what we have achieved in Rio, in Doha and in Monterrey ñ implement these comittments - and try to get a few new, but decisive deliverables, for the poor and for the environment. In order to achieve that, Norway will try to play a role in bridging the gap that often is develops between the North and the South during such negotiations.

Being a practical person, which you are by definition, and also because of the position you hold, are you concerned that Johannesburg might just wind up as a big talkfest?

There's always the worry that there will be too many words, and too few deeds. This is a general concern connected with international conferences, and it's also the case here. But I think the challenge for WSSD is to use the fact that there are 120 heads of states attending. There will be a huge missed opportunity if 120 leaders were to leave Johannesburg with little to show for. It is my hope and belief that when they come to WSSD, the climate will be result-oriented and that deliverables will be achieved.

One concern that one hears, is that in the agenda for Johannesburg, not enough emphasis has been put on the role of women. Is that something that bothers you?

I think it's very important. In our fight for poverty eradication, we know that 70 percent of the world's poor are women and children. The rights for women and children are adressed in the Millennium Development Goals, and they have to be in focus at WSSD.

From the Norwegian side, we hope to see achievments on issues that are important for women and children such as water and sanitation. That has high relevance for women. We hope to get some agreement on that. We also hope to see, in cooperation with the Who, an initiative on health and environment for children.

There has been quite a bit of articulated concern on the part of developing countries and NGOs, that big business seems to have hijacked this conference. Is that a factor in your own thinking? How worried are you?

I don't think big business is hijacking the conference. I think it's crucial to ensure that we get sufficient results, and a sufficiently strong plan of implementation, to ensure that concrete deliverables are in place. Then, also, to get a declaration that has substance, and that has meat. Those are the most important things. The test case will be whether governments can deliver on this. And then we shouldn't underestimate the Importanct role that the private sector also can play in providing resources, and in working with governments in implementation of some of these goals. Here, partnership initiatives with business may be effective. But these have to be nztional ownership and coorditation. We do not need a donor driven circus.

What about the role of nongovernmental organizations? Sometimes they're seen as irritants. How would you like to cast their role in a more positive, post Johannesburg phase?

The Norwegian view on the non governmental organizations has always been that they are important partners. They are an important partner for us in development, and in policy formulation. They are ñ and should be -- part and parcel of these international conferences. On the other side,the politicians are the ones making policies, and have the responsibility for negotiating them. We have the responsibility of getting sufficient deliverables out of these conferences. And then the partnership with the NGOs will also be on how to implement and follow up the comittments made. They are watch dogs, and I think to some extent, as politicians we need watch dogs, to follow our path.