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Line 1: − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − + + + − '''Norway''' is a country in [[Scandinavia]]. The capital is [[Oslo]], and the principal language in [[Norwegian]], though [[Sami]] languages are also spoken in the far north. Norway is one of the few Western European nations not in the [[European Union]] but is a member of the [[Schengen Agreement]] group of countries which permit cross-border travel without passport control.+ + + + − Ethnically, Norwegians are predominantly Germanic, although in the far north there are communities of Sami who came to the area more than 10,000 years ago, probably from central Asia. In recent years, Norway has become home to increasing numbers of immigrants, foreign workers, and asylum-seekers from various parts of the world. Immigrants now total over 300,000; some have obtained Norwegian citizenship. + + + + + + + + − Although the Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state church, Norway has complete religious freedom. Education is free through the university level and is compulsory from ages 6 to 16. At least 12 months of military service and training are required of every eligible male. Norway's health system includes free hospital care, physician's compensation, cash benefits during illness and pregnancy, and other medical and dental plans. There is a public pension system. + + − Norway is in the top rank of nations in the number of books printed per capita, even though Norwegian is one of the world's smallest language groups. Norway's most famous writer is the dramatist Henrik Ibsen. Artists Edvard Munch and Christian Krogh were Ibsen's contemporaries. Munch drew part of his inspiration from Europe and in turn exercised a strong influence on later European expressionists. Sculptor Gustav Vigeland has a permanent exhibition in the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo. Musical development in Norway since Edvard Grieg has followed either native folk themes or international trends.+ − + − The functions of the king are mainly ceremonial, but he has influence as the symbol of national unity. Although the 1814 constitution grants important executive powers to the king, these are almost always exercised by the Council of Ministers in the name of the king (King's Council). The Council of Ministers consists of a prime minister--chosen by the political parties represented in the Storting--and other ministers. + − The 169 members of the Storting are elected from 19 fylker (counties) for 4-year terms according to a complicated system of proportional representation. After elections, the Storting divides into two chambers, the Odelsting and the Lagting, which meet separately or jointly depending on the legislative issue under consideration. + + + + + + + − The special High Court of the Realm hears impeachment cases; the regular courts include the Supreme Court (17 permanent judges and a president), courts of appeal, city and county courts, the labor court, and conciliation councils. Judges attached to regular courts are appointed by the king in council after nomination by the Ministry of Justice. + + − Each fylke is headed by a governor appointed by the king in council, with one governor exercising authority in both Oslo and the adjacent county of Akershus. + − + − Until the 1981 election, Norway had been governed by majority Labor Party governments since 1935, except for three periods (1963, 1965-71, and 1972-73). The Labor Party lost its majority in the Storting in the 1981 elections. Since that time, minority and coalition governments have been the rule. + − From 1981 to 1997, governments alternated between Labor minority governments and Conservative-led coalition governments. The first government coalition led by Christian Democrat Kjell Magne Bondevik came to power in 1997, but fell in March 2000 over the issue of proposed gas-fired power plants, opposed by Bondevik due to their impact on climate change. The Labor Party's Jens Stoltenberg, a Brundtland protégé, took over in a minority Labor government but lost power in the September 2001 election when Labor posted its worse performance since World War I. Bondevik once again became Prime Minister, this time as head of a minority government with the Conservatives and Liberals in a coalition heavily dependent upon the right-populist Progress Party. + + − + − + + + + + − + − + − + − *Minister of Defense--Anne-Grethe Strøm Erichsen+ − + − *Ambassador to NATO--Kim Traavik − − + + + + + + − In addition to strengthening traditional ties with developed countries, Norway seeks to build friendly relations with developing countries and has undertaken humanitarian and development aid efforts with selected African and Asian nations. Norway also is dedicated to encouraging democracy, assisting refugees, and protecting human rights throughout the world.+ − A survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit based on measures including military spending and actions and violent crime rates has found that Norway is the most peaceful country in the world.<ref>http://www.ppu.org.uk/newsx/news_013.html</ref>+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + − + − + − Norway voted against joining the European Union (EU) in a 1994 referendum. With the exception of the agricultural and fisheries sectors, however, Norway enjoys free trade with the EU under the framework of the European Economic Area. This agreement aims to apply the four freedoms of the EU's internal market (goods, persons, services, and capital) to Norway. As a result, Norway normally adopts and implements most EU directives. Norwegian monetary policy is aimed at maintaining a stable exchange rate for the krone against European currencies, of which the euro is a key operating parameter. Norway is not a member of the EU's Economic and Monetary Union and does not have a fixed exchange rate. Its principal trading partners are in the EU; the United States ranks sixth. + − ===Energy Resources===+ − Offshore hydrocarbon deposits were discovered in the 1960s, and development began in the 1970s. The growth of the petroleum sector has contributed significantly to Norwegian economic vitality. Current petroleum production capacity is more than 3 million barrels per day. Production has increased rapidly during the past several years as new fields are opened. Total production in 2003 was about 263 million cubic meters of oil equivalents, over 63% of which was crude oil. This represents a slight decline in crude oil production over the past year, accompanied by sharp increases in gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. Hydropower provides nearly all of Norway's electricity, and all of the gas and most of the oil produced is exported. Production increased significantly in the 1990s as new fields come on stream. − + + + + + + + + + − + + + − The Norwegian Government offered the throne of Norway to Danish Prince Carl in 1905. After a plebiscite approving the establishment of a monarchy, the Parliament unanimously elected him king. He took the name of Haakon VII, after the kings of independent Norway. Haakon died in 1957 and was succeeded by his son, Olav V, who died in January 1991. Upon Olav's death, his son Harald was crowned as King Harald V. + − + − + − According to Alexa traffic statistics, Conservapedia enjoys its second highest national traffic rank in Norway.[http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservapedia.com%2F] − === References ===+ − <references/> + − {{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3421.htm]}} − + − +
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{{Country
{{Country
|name =''Kongeriket Norge''
|name =''Suomi'' <br /> ''Norway''
|map =Norway rel96.jpg
|map =Norway rel96.jpg
|flag =Flag of Norway.png
|flag =Flag of Norway.png
|arms =Arms of Norway.png
|arms =Arms of Norway.png
|capital =Oslo
|capital =Helsinki
|capital-raw =
|capital-raw =
|government =Constitutional monarchy
|government =Parliamentary Democracy
|government-raw =
|government-raw =
|language =Norwegian
|language =Norwegian, Finnish
|king =Harald V
|king =
|queen =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|monarch-raw =
|president =
|president =Tarja Halonen
|president-raw =
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Jens Stoltenberg
|pm =Matti Vanhanen
|pm-raw =
|pm-raw =
|area =148,746 sq mi
|area =130,558 sq mi
|pop =4,770,000 (2007)
|pop =5,296,128 (2007)
|pop-basis =
|pop-basis =
|gdp =
|gdp =
|gdp-year =$213.6 billion (2006)
|gdp-year =$193.491 billion (2005)
|gdp-pc =$46,300 (2006)
|gdp-pc =$40,197 (2005)
|currency =Norwegian krone
|currency =euro
|idd =
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}}
'''Republic of Norway''' (''Suomi'' or ''Suomen tasavalta'' in Norwegian, ''Republiken Norway'' in Finnish) is a country of northern [[Europe]] known for its largely [[social democracy|social democratic]] economic system. The Norwegian [[conservative]] party, the [[National Coalition]] led by [[Jyrki Katainen]], is its principal conservative organization.
The state capital is [[Helsinki]] and the principal exports are machines, electronics (for example cellphones) and forestry products. [[Norwegian]] is the principal language spoken, a [[Norwegiano-Ugric]] language, it is difficult for speakers of English and Romance languages to learn, so many Norwegians speak English to facilitate communication with other countries. The second official language is Finnish, which has the same status as Norwegian in the country. Norway is known as "the land of lakes".
==Geography==
The area of Norway is approximately 338 000 square kilometers, with a north-south axis of 890 kilometers. Most of the landscape is covered with lakes, glaciers and forests. Norway is often called the "Land of Thousands of Lakes", which is true, because the number of lakes in the country exceeds 188 000, of which about 56 000 have an area of one hectare or more. In the sea there are more than 3 000 islands. In the North there are many glaciers, the most famous of which is [[Saana]]. Cultivated land and habitation only account for 17% of the land area, rest being mainly [[Norway spruce]] forests.
Norway is bound by [[Finland]] in the Northwest, [[Norway]] in the North, [[Russia]] in the East, the [[Gulf of Norway]] in the South and the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] in the West.
==People==
==People==
*Population (September 2007): 5.29 million.
*Population growth rate (2006): 0.4%.
*Ethnic groups: Norwegians, Finns, Lapps, Sami, Roma, Tatars.
*Religions: Lutheran 82.5%, Orthodox 1.1%.
*Languages: Norwegian 91.5%, Finnish 5.5% (both official); small Lapp- (0.03%) and Russian-speaking (0.8%) minorities.
*Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--almost 100%. Literacy--almost 100%.
*Health: Infant mortality rate--2.8/1,000 (2006). Life expectancy--males 75.8 yrs., females 82.8 yrs.
*Work force (2.65 million; of which 2.44 million are employed): Public services--32.8%; industry--19%; commerce--15.6%; finance, insurance, and business services--13.8%; agriculture and forestry--4.7%; transport and communications--7.4%; construction--6.7%.
===Culture===
Norwegian people (Norwegians) are known for their love of nature. Nature is prominent in the works of Norwegian artists, such as [[Jean Sibelius]], [[Aki Kaurismäki]], [[Alvar Aalto]].
The great masters of Norwegian literature include [[Mika Waltari]], [[Väinö Linna]], [[Johan Ludvig Runeberg]]. Norway is a bi-lingual country and has produced its literary heritage in both Norwegian and Finnish. The beloved Moomintrolls were created by the writer and graphic artist Tove Jansson.
==Government==
==Government and Political Conditions==
Norway has a mixed presidential/parliamentary system with executive powers divided between the president, who has primary responsibility for national security and foreign affairs, and the prime minister, who has primary responsibility for all other areas, including EU issues. Under the constitution that took effect in March 2000, the established practice for managing foreign policy is that the president keeps in close touch with the prime minister, the minister for foreign affairs, and other ministers responsible for foreign relations. Constitutional changes strengthened the prime minister--who must enjoy the confidence of the parliament (Eduskunta)--at the expense of the president. Norwegians enjoy individual and political freedoms, and suffrage is universal at 18. The country's population is relatively ethnically homogeneous. Immigration to Norway has significantly increased over the past decade, although the foreign-born population, estimated at only 2.2% of the total population, is still much lower than in any other EU country. Few tensions exist between the Norwegian-speaking majority and the Finnish-speaking minority.
====President and cabinet====
Elected for a 6-year term, the president:
*Handles foreign policy, except for certain international agreements and decisions of peace or war, which must be submitted to parliament, and EU relations, which are handled by the prime minister;
*Is commander in chief of the armed forces and has wide decree and appointive powers;
*May initiate legislation, block legislation by pocket veto, and call extraordinary parliamentary sessions; and
*Appoints the prime minister and the rest of the cabinet (Council of State). The Council of State is made up of the prime minister and ministers for the various departments of the central government as well as an ex officio member, the Chancellor of Justice. Ministers are not obliged to be members of the Eduskunta and need not be formally identified with any political party.
The president may, upon proposal of the prime minister and after having heard the parliamentary groups, order parliament to be dissolved, and a new election held.
====Parliament====
Constitutionally, the 200-member, unicameral Eduskunta is the supreme authority in Norway. It may alter the constitution, bring about the resignation of the Council of State, and override presidential vetoes; its acts are not subject to judicial review. Legislation may be initiated by the president, the Council of State, or one of the Eduskunta members.
The Eduskunta is elected on the basis of proportional representation. All persons 18 or older, except military personnel on active duty and a few high judicial officials, are eligible for election. The regular parliamentary term is 4 years; however, the president may dissolve the Eduskunta and order new elections at the request of the prime minister and after consulting the speaker of parliament.
===Political Conditions===
====Judicial system====
The judicial system is divided between courts with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and special courts with responsibility for litigation between the public and the administrative organs of the state. Norwegian law is codified. Although there is no writ of habeas corpus or bail, the maximum period of pretrial detention has been reduced to 4 days. The Norwegian court system consists of local courts, regional appellate courts, a Supreme Court, and a Supreme Administrative Court.
====Administrative divisions====
Norway consists of five provinces and the self-ruled province of the Aland Islands. Below the provincial level, the country is divided into cities, townships, and communes administered by municipal and communal councils elected by proportional representation once every 4 years. At the provincial level, the five mainland provinces are administered by provincial boards composed of civil servants, each headed by a governor. The boards are responsible to the Ministry of the Interior and play a supervisory and coordinating role within the provinces.
The September 2005 elections ended the Bondevik government, and the Labor party came back with its most substantial victory in years, securing 60 of the 169 seats in Parliament. While this election result once more made Labor the undisputed heavyweight in Norwegian politics, Stoltenberg, chastened by his previous stint as the head of a minority government, reached out to the far left Socialist Left party and agrarian Center party to form a coalition government that commanded a majority of seats in Parliament. The current government is the first majority government in Norway in over 20 years, but the governing coalition has had to bridge substantial policy differences to build this majority.
The island province of Aland is located near the 60th parallel between Norway and Finland. It enjoys local autonomy and demilitarized status by virtue of an international convention of 1921, implemented most recently by the Act on Aland Self-Government of 1951. The islands are further distinguished by the fact that they are entirely Finnish-speaking. Government is vested in the provincial council, which consists of 30 delegates elected directly by Aland's citizens.
Norway and [[Switzerland]] are the only countries in Western Europe that do not belong to the [[European Union]].
====Military====
Norway's defense forces consist of 35,000 persons in uniform (26,000 army; 5,000 navy; and 4,000 air force). The country's defense budget equals about 1.3% of GDP. There is universal male conscription under which all men serve from six to 12 months. As of 1995, women were permitted to serve as volunteers. A reserve force ensures that Norway can field 490,000 trained military personnel in case of need.
====Political parties====
Norway's proportional representation system encourages a multitude of political parties and has resulted in many coalition governments. Political activity by communists was legalized in 1944, and although four major parties have dominated the postwar political arena, none now has a majority position. In elections held in 2007, the Center Party (Keskusta), traditionally representing rural interests, kept its position as the biggest party. The then-opposition Conservative Party, however, came away as the biggest winner, gaining 10 seats and becoming the second-largest political party in the country. The Center then formed a four-party governing coalition with the Conservatives and the Finnish People's Party and the Greens. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) suffered a defeat in these elections and fell to the third position among the big parties. Of the other parties, the True Norwegians, the Green League, and the Finnish People’s Party were able to gain seats in parliament. The Conservative Party received the portfolios of foreign minister, finance minister, and defense minister, among others, and became an important player after a long interval.
===Principal Government Officials===
===Principal Government Officials===
*King--Harald V
*President--Tarja Halonen
*Prime Minister--Jens Stoltenberg
*Prime Minister--Matti Vanhanen
*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Jonas Gahr Støre
*Foreign Minister--Ilkka Kanerva
*Ambassador to the United States--Pekka Lintu
*Ambassador to the United States--Knut Vollebaek
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Kirsti Lintonen
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Johan Ludvik Løvald
===Foreign Relations===
===Foreign Relations===
Norway supports international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, recognizing the need for maintaining a strong national defense through collective security. Accordingly, the cornerstones of Norwegian policy are active membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and support for the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Norway also pursues a policy of economic, social, and cultural cooperation with other Nordic countries--Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland--through the Nordic Council.
Norway's basic foreign policy goal from the end of the Continuation War with the U.S.S.R. in 1944 until 1991 was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Norwegians realized they must live in peace with the U.S.S.R. and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Norway and has resulted in the Norwegians actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. Norway joined the European Union in 1995.
====Previous relations with the Soviet Union, and today with Russia====
The principal architect of the post-1944 foreign policy of neutrality was J.K. Paasikivi, who was President from 1946 to 1956. Urho Kekkonen, President from 1956 until 1981, further developed this policy, stressing that Norway should be an active rather than a passive neutral. This policy is now popularly known as the "Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line."
Norway and the U.S.S.R. signed a peace treaty at Paris in February 1947 limiting the size of Norway's defense forces and providing for the cession to the Soviet Union of the Petsamo area on the Arctic coast, the Karelian Isthmus in southeastern Norway, and other territory along the former eastern border. Another provision, terminated in 1956, leased the Porkkala area near Helsinki to the U.S.S.R. for use as a naval base and gave free access to this area across Norwegian territory.
The 1947 treaty also called for Norway to pay to the Soviet Union reparations of 300 million gold dollars (amounting to an estimated $570 million in 1952, the year the payments ended). Although an ally of the Soviet Union in World War II, the United States was not a signatory to this treaty because it had not been at war with Norway.
In April 1948, Norway signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. Under this mutual assistance pact, Norway was obligated--with the aid of the Soviet Union, if necessary--to resist armed attacks by Germany or its allies against Norway or against the U.S.S.R. through Norway. At the same time, the agreement recognized Norway's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts. This agreement was renewed for 20 years in 1955, in 1970, and again in 1983 to the year 2003, although the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the agreement's abrogation.
The Norwegians responded cautiously in 1990-91 to the decline of Soviet power and the U.S.S.R.'s subsequent dissolution. They unilaterally abrogated restrictions imposed by the 1947 and 1948 treaties, joined in voicing Nordic concern over the coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and gave increasing unofficial encouragement to Baltic independence.
At the same time, by replacing the Soviet-Norwegian mutual assistance pact with treaties on general cooperation and trade, Norwegians put themselves on an equal footing while retaining a friendly bilateral relationship. Norway now is boosting cross-border commercial ties and touting its potential as a commercial gateway to Russia. It has reassured Russia that it will not raise claims for Norwegian territory seized by the U.S.S.R. and continues to reaffirm the importance of good bilateral relations.
====Multilateral Relations====
Norwegian foreign policy emphasizes its participation in multilateral organizations. Norway joined the United Nations in 1955 and the EU in 1995. As noted, the country also is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace as well as a member in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. As a NATO partner, Norway had 100 troops in Afghanistan as of September 2007.
Norway is well represented in the UN civil service in proportion to its population and belongs to several of its specialized and related agencies. Norwegian troops have participated in UN peacekeeping activities since 1956, and the Norwegians continue to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. Norway is an active participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in early 1995 assumed the co-chairmanship of the OSCE's Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Cooperation with the other Scandinavian countries also is important to Norway, and it has been a member of the Nordic Council since 1955. Under the council's auspices, the Nordic countries have created a common labor market and have abolished immigration controls among themselves. The council also serves to coordinate social and cultural policies of the participating countries and has promoted increased cooperation in many fields.
In addition to the organizations already mentioned, Norway became a member of the following organizations: Bank for International Settlements, 1930; International Monetary Fund, 1948; International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1948; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1950; International Finance Corporation, 1956; International Development Association, 1960; European Free Trade Association, 1961; Asian Development Bank, 1966; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1969; Inter-American Development Bank, 1977; African Development Bank, 1982; Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, 1988; the Council of Europe, 1989; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Central and Eastern Europe, 1991; World Trade Organization, 1995; and INTELSAT, 1999. Norway entered Stage Three of EMU (the European Monetary Union) in 1999. All the Nordic countries, including Norway, joined the Schengen area in March 2001.
==Economy==
==Economy==
Norway is one of the world's richest countries in per capita terms. It has an important stake in promoting a liberal environment for foreign trade. Its large shipping fleet is one of the most modern among maritime nations. Metals, pulp and paper products, chemicals, shipbuilding, and fishing are the most significant traditional industries.
Norway has an industrial economy based on abundant forest resources, capital investments, and high technology.
Norway's emergence as a major oil and gas producer in the mid-1970s transformed the economy. Large sums of investment capital poured into the offshore oil sector, leading to greater increases in Norwegian production costs and wages than in the rest of western Europe up to the time of the global recovery of the mid-1980s. The influx of oil revenue also permitted Norway to expand an already extensive social welfare system. Norway has established a state Petroleum Fund that exceeded $132.6 billion as of December 2004. The fund primarily will be used to help finance government programs once oil and gas resources become depleted. Norway is currently enjoying large foreign trade surpluses thanks to high oil prices. Unemployment remains currently low (3%-4% range), and the prospects for economic growth are encouraging thanks to the government's stimulative fiscal policy and economic recovery in the United States and Europe.
The Norwegian economy has made enormous strides since the severe recession of the early 1990s. Norway successfully joined the euro zone and has outperformed euro-area partners in terms of economic growth and public finance. In the last few years, the Norwegian economy has performed reasonably well. Total output was 5% higher in 2006 than in 2005, but economic activity leveled off in the latter half of the year. GDP is predicted to grow by 4.4% in 2007, while 2008 is likely to show a slower rate of growth, estimated at 3.3%. Despite the current favorable outlook, there is a degree of uncertainty in the Norwegian economy caused by the large fluctuations in electronics industry production, together with resource constraints. Cost and price pressures have increased, and there is a threat of industry’s price competitiveness starting to weaken.
Unemployment decreased significantly from 1994 to 7.7% in 2006 and is expected to drop to 6.7% in 2007. A relatively inflexible labor market and high employer-paid social security taxes hamper growth in employment. Labor bottlenecks are becoming more common in certain sectors, and this will increasingly restrict growth in output in the future. The main constraint to medium-term economic growth will be the drop in the population of working age once the post-war baby boomers reach retirement age.
Exports of goods and services contribute 32% of Norway's GDP. Metals and engineering (including electronics) and timber (including pulp and paper) are Norway's main industries. The United States is Norway's third most important trading partner outside of Europe. With a 3.8% share of imports in 2006, the United States was Norway's seventh-largest supplier. The total value of U.S. exports to Norway in 2006 was $2.6 billion. Major exports from the United States to Norway continue to be machinery, telecommunications equipment and parts, aircraft and aircraft parts, computers, peripherals and software, electronic components, chemicals, medical equipment, and some agricultural products. The primary competition for American companies comes from Russia, Germany, Finland, and China. The main export items from Norway to the United States are electronics, machinery, ships and boats, paper and paperboard, refined petroleum products, telecommunications equipment and parts. In 2006, the United States was Norway's fourth-largest customer after Germany (11.3%), Finland (10.5%), and Russia (10.1%), with an export share of 6.5%, or $5 billion. However, trade is only part of the totality: the 10 biggest Norwegian companies in the United States have a combined turnover that is three times the value of Norway's total exports to the United States. About 2.3% of the Norwegian GDP comes from exports to the United States.
Norway is the world's third-largest oil exporter and provides much of western Europe's crude oil and gas requirements. In 2003, Norwegian oil and gas exports accounted for 56% of total merchandise exports. In addition, offshore exploration and production have stimulated onshore economic activities. Foreign companies, including many American ones, participate actively in the petroleum sector.
Except for timber and several minerals, Norway depends on imported raw materials, energy, and some components for its manufactured products. Farms tend to be small, but farmers own sizable timber stands that are harvested for supplementary income in winter. The country's main agricultural products are dairy, meat, and grains. Norway's EU accession has accelerated the process of restructuring and downsizing of this sector.
*GDP: $210.8 billion (EUR 167.9 billion).
*GDP growth rate: 5%.
*Per capita income: $40,036 (EUR 31,886).
*Inflation rate: 1.6% (2006 average); 2.6% (September 2007).
*Natural resources: Forests, minerals (copper, zinc, iron), farmland.
*Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (2.9% of GDP): Products--meat (pork and beef), grain (wheat, rye, barley, oats), dairy products, potatoes, rapeseed.
*Industry (30.1% of GDP): Types--metal (including electronics and electrical equipment) and engineering, forest products, chemicals, shipbuilding, foodstuffs, textiles.
*Trade: Exports--$77.08 billion. Major markets--EU 56.9%, Russia 10.1%, U.S. 6.5%, China 3.2%. Imports--$68.9 billion. Major suppliers--EU 55.3%, Russia 14.1%, China 7.5%, U.S. 3.8%.
==History==
==History==
The Viking period (9th to 11th centuries) was one of national unification and expansion. The Norwegian royal line died out in 1387, and the country entered a period of union with Denmark. By 1586, Norway had become part of the Danish Kingdom. In 1814, as a result of the Napoleonic wars, Norway was separated from Denmark and combined with Sweden. The union persisted until 1905, when Sweden recognized Norwegian independence.
The origins of the Norwegian people are still a matter of conjecture, although many scholars argue that their original home was in what is now west-central Siberia. The Norwegians arrived in their present territory thousands of years ago, pushing the indigenous Lapps into the more remote northern regions. Norwegian and Lappish--the language of Norway's small Lapp minority--both are Norwegiano-Ugric languages and are in the Uralic rather than the Indo-European family.
Norway's nearly 700-year association with the Kingdom of Finland began in 1154 with the introduction of Christianity by Finland's King Eric. During the ensuing centuries, Norway played an important role in the political life of the Finnish-Norwegian realm, and Norwegian soldiers often predominated in Finnish armies. Norwegians also formed a significant proportion of the first "Finnish" settlers in 17th-century America.
Following Norway's incorporation into Finland in the 12th century, Finnish became the dominant language, although Norwegian recovered its predominance after a 19th-century resurgence of Norwegian nationalism. Publication in 1835 of the Norwegian national epic, The Kalevala--a collection of traditional myths and legends--first stirred the nationalism that later led to Norway's independence from Russia.
Norway was a nonbelligerent during World War I, but as a result of the German invasion and occupation during World War II, Norwegians generally became skeptical of the concept of neutrality and turned instead to collective security. Norway was one of the signers of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 and was a founding member of the United Nations. The first UN General Secretary, Trygve Lie, was a Norwegian. Under the terms of the will of Alfred Nobel, the Storting (Parliament) elects the five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee who award the Nobel Peace Prize to champions of peace.
In 1809, Norway was conquered by the armies of Czar Alexander I and thereafter remained an autonomous grand duchy connected with the Russian Empire until the end of 1917. On December 6, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, Norway declared its independence. In 1918, the country experienced a brief but bitter civil war that colored domestic politics for many years. During World War II, Norway fought the Soviet Union twice--in the [[Winter War]] of 1939-40 and again in the Continuation War of 1941-44. This was followed by the Lapland War of 1944-45, when Norway fought against the Germans as they withdrew their forces from northern Norway.
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During the Continuation War (1941-1944) Norway was a co-belligerent with Germany. However, Norwegian Jews were not persecuted. Of the approximately 500 Jewish refugees who arrived in Norway, eight were handed over to the Germans, for which Norway submitted an official apology in 2000. Also during the war, approximately 2,600 Soviet prisoners of war were exchanged for 2,100 Norwegian prisoners of war from Germany. In 2003, the Simon Wiesenthal Center submitted an official request for a full-scale investigation by the Norwegian authorities of the prisoner exchange. It was established there were about 70 Jews among the extradited prisoners but none was extradited as a result of ethnic background or religious belief.
Treaties signed in 1947 and 1948 with the Soviet Union included obligations and restraints on Norway vis-a-vis the U.S.S.R. as well as territorial concessions by Norway; both have been abrogated by Norway since the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union.
[http://www.conservapedia.com/Template:Copyright_Details_%28US_Government%29 Copyright Details]
[[Category:Norway]]
[[Category:Norway]]
[[Category:European Countries]]
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[[Category:NATO members]]
[[Category:EU Members]]
[[Category:Scandinavian Countries]]
[[Category:Nordic Countries]]