Norway's PM rules out Sochi boycott
The Local Norway - [email protected]
Published: 19 Dec, 2013 CET.
Updated: Thu 19 Dec 2013 10:09 CET
Norway's Prime Minister has announced she will not follows the leaders of the US, Germany and France and boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi in protest at Russia's new anti-gay legislation.
"I'm not in favour of mounting a strong protest by not being there," Erna Solberg told the VG newspaper. "I do not think it provides a better basis for dialogue with anyone." On Tuesday, the US announced that no major politicians would be attending the event, with President Barack Obama instead sending two openly gay Americans to represent the country, the tennis player Jean King and the hockey player Caitlin Cahow. France's President François Hollande and Germany's President Joachim Gauck have both also said they will not attend the games. Solberg told the paper that Norway frequently brought up human rights issues such as gay rights in its meetings with Russian officials.
Comments
See Also
"I'm not in favour of mounting a strong protest by not being there," Erna Solberg told the VG newspaper. "I do not think it provides a better basis for dialogue with anyone."
On Tuesday, the US announced that no major politicians would be attending the event, with President Barack Obama instead sending two openly gay Americans to represent the country, the tennis player Jean King and the hockey player Caitlin Cahow.
France's President François Hollande and Germany's President Joachim Gauck have both also said they will not attend the games.
Solberg told the paper that Norway frequently brought up human rights issues such as gay rights in its meetings with Russian officials.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.