Norwegian MFA: "We Need This Forum in These Times"
Bodø Mayor and Chair of the Arctic Mayors’ Forum Ida Maria Pinnerød (Labor), Secretary-General of the Arctic Mayors’ Forum Patti Bruns, Tromsø Mayor Gunnar Wilhelmsen (Labor) and Norwegian MFA Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap). (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
Tromsø, Northern Norway: Mayors from across the Arctic met in Tromsø, Northern Norway to officially open the Arctic Mayors’ Forum Secretariat.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap) officially opened the Arctic Mayors’ Forum Secretariat in Tromsø at Tromsø City Hall Tuesday. Mayors from seven of the 14 members attended the occasion.
“We need the Arctic Mayors' forum in these times. We need strong local voices. The MFA is proud to support the forum," said Huitfeldt during the opening.
Tromsø Mayor Gunnar Wilhelmsen (Ap) took the opportunity to welcome to Tromsø, Bodø Mayor and Chair of the Arctic Mayors’ Forum Ida Maria Pinnerød (Ap), who spoke about the significance of the forum.
“We share a responsibility for the region and its inhabitants, and finally, we can declare the secretariat open. Now the forum can be even more present. The funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensure that," said Pinnerød.
We are grateful for the support that the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided us.
Secretary General of the Arctic Mayors' Forum, Patti Bruns was “thrilled that Minister Huitfeldt opened the Secretariat”.
“We are grateful for the support that the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided us through an Arctic 2030 grant to establish a permanent presence here in Tromsø”, said Bruns.
The Secretariat has been granted NOK 3 million over three years.
Founding members of the Arctic Mayors’ Forum signed a declaration in October 2021 establishing the Forum as a pan-Arctic organization dedicated to ensuring the participation of mayors and elected community leaders at Arctic governance tables to safeguard the values, goals, and interests of Arctic Peoples.
