NATO chief commemorates victims of 2011 terror attack in Norway

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

OSLO, Norway (AA) – The chief of NATO on Wednesday took part in a ceremony in Norway to honor the victims of terrorism and extremism.

"Our democratic values prevailed, terrorism failed," Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a ceremony honoring the 77 victims of the 2011 attack in the capital Oslo and a youth camp on the island of Utoya. At the time he was Norway’s prime minister.

The massacre was committed by Anders Behring Breivik, an Islamophobe and immigration opponent who called for the deportation of all Muslims from Europe. He is currently serving the maximum sentence of 21 years for his crimes.

Linking what happened then in Norway with the current war in Europe, Stoltenberg said: "There is a line between Utoya and Ukraine, between a brutal act of terrorism and an illegal war of aggression."

Democracy, freedom, and diversity of thought, opinion, and belief were all assailed at the time, and they are still being attacked now, he said.

"We will not let authoritarian states break down the rules-based international order. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes," he underscored. "And we will not let terrorists crush our free and open societies. We will stand united to protect our values and our people."

Also attending the event were Norway's current Premier Jonas Gahr Store, Lisbeth Roneland, who leads the support group for the 2011 victims, and NATO member state foreign ministers.

The event was held on the eve of a two-day gathering of the NATO foreign ministers in Oslo including a Thursday informal meeting of the ministers and officials from Sweden, whose application for NATO membership is pending.

Norway is a founding member of NATO. Finland and Sweden applied for membership soon after the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. Finland joined the alliance in April, while Sweden is making reforms to allow its membership.