Jonas Gahr Støre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jonas Gahr Støre | |
 Photo: Harry Wad (2007) |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 17, 2005 |
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| Monarch | Harald V |
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| Prime Minister | Jens Stoltenberg |
| Preceded by | Jan Petersen |
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| Born | 25 August 1960 Oslo, Norway |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Political party | Norwegian Labour Party |
| Relations | Married |
| Children | Three |
| Residence | Oslo, Norway |
| Alma mater | Paris Institute of Political Studies |
| Website | Government page |
Jonas Gahr Støre (born 25 August 1960 in Oslo) is a Norwegian politician for the the Norwegian Labour Party. He is the current the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, having been appointed in the second cabinet Stoltenberg on 17 October 2005.
He is the son of ship-owner Ulf Jonas Støre and homemaker Unni Gahr. He attended Berg School in Oslo followed by naval officer training at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy. He later studied political science at the Sciences Po in Paris. He enrolled as a PhD student at the London School of Economics, but withdrew after a few weeks, as he decided not to pursue an academic career.
He started his professional career as a teaching fellow in the Harvard Negotiation Project at Harvard Law School in 1986. This was followed by a position as researcher at the Norwegian School of Management (1986 to 1989) and special adviser at the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister from 1989 to 1995). He was Director General for International Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister from 1995 to 1998 followed by the position as ambassador at the Norwegian Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva.
His first major international position was as Executive Director (Chief of Staff) in the World Health Organization under the leadership of Gro Harlem Brundtland. This was followed by a year as State Secretary and Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in the first cabinet Stoltenberg from 2000 to 2001. Before taking up the position as Foreign Minister he was Executive Chairman of the think tank ECON Analyse from 2002 to 2003 and Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross from 2003 to 2005.
Jonas Gahr Støre is a popular politician in Norway. His job approval rating is the best of all the ministers. Reports suggests that Oslo Labour Party wants him as a candidate for parliament in 2009, and Støre is reportedly considering the prospect of a parliamentary future. Furthermore he is frequently mentioned as a possible future Prime Minister.[citation needed]
Jonas Gahr Støre is married and has three children. His spare time interests include cross-country skiing.
[edit] 2008 alleged assassination attempt
On January 14, 2008 a suicide bomber struck the Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, where Støre was staying.[1] Støre was unhurt in the incident, which killed six people, including a Norwegian journalist who was part of Støre's delegation.[2] United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated that Støre was the target of the attack[3], but this has been rejected by a Taliban spokesperson.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel, BBC News, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
- ^ Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell, Aftenposten, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
- ^ FNs generalsekretær: - Støre var målet, Aftenposten, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
- ^ Taliban: - Støre var ikke målet, VG Nett, 14 January 2008. Retrieved on 14 January 2008.
| Preceded by Jan Egeland |
Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by Trygve G. Nordby |
| Preceded by Jan Petersen |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway) 2005–present |
Incumbent |
