Norway's Constitutional Day at the Residence
On May 17th, on the occasion of Norway’s Constitution Day, Ambassador H.E. Jorn Gjelstad delivered an inspirational speech highlighting his country’s journey to democracy, including historic ties with Serbia dating back to the 12th century when King Sigurd travelled with his loyal soldiers and kinsmen through Smederevo and Belgrade. This speech is a highly recommended read on many accounts, especially in the context of great bilateral efforts to further strengthen our political, economic and cultural ties.
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Dear excellences, dear colleagues, dear friends
I am proud to see so many of you attending today and paying tribute to the celebration of our national day. Due to the paralyzing effect of the Pandemic for more than two years, today’s arrangement to celebrate the 17th of May is the first we have managed to organize during my tenure as an ambassador in Belgrade.
By celebrating this day, we Norwegians are paying tribute not only to our national identity and common historical experience as a people, but also to the democratic values which are embedded in the way we are governing our own society. This includes the fundamental of trust between our institutions and our citizens.
On the 17th of May, we are also honoring the strong connectivity between Norway and the outer world, because our welfare, economic stability and security depend on cooperation with other countries. External impulses and ideas are key if we Norwegians are to succeed in life.
Norwegians do know, that we as a nation have been shaped and developed first and foremost by external impulses and ideas. For a small country on the northern fringe of Europe, we have to reach out and act in an extrovert way. Openness, inclusiveness, curiosity and cross-cultural engagement are key if we are to move on and improve ourselves.
This modus operandi was well known to our founding fathers and was clearly demonstrated by the constitutional process leading up to the signing of the Constitution in 1814. Many of these men were significantly influenced by the democratic legacy from ancient Greece, the French revolutionary ideas, the Constitution of the United States as well as British political traditions. Proud to say, the Norwegian Constitution is the second oldest written Constitution in the world still in existence. And it is considered to be one of the most liberal and democratic ones.
This Constitution also marked the end of more than 400 years of Danish-Norwegian state partnership, as the Danish Kingdom surrendered to the victorious states after the Napoleonic wars. And King Frederick-the-Sixth was forced to cede Norway to Sweden.
At that time, the adoption of the Constitution (the Norwegian Constituent Assembly) unleashed an upsurge of national patriotism in Norway. This to the great concern and displeasure of the Swedish King Carl Johan. At that time Norway was in a personal union with Sweden, and King Carl Johan considered the Constitution to be a huge provocation to the Swedish Royal Family.
He found it both revolutionary, disrespectful and dangerous to both Sweden and the Union as it contained, according to him, a huge a potential for revolt. And he – correctly so - considered it also to be a breach of the Norwegian-Swedish Peace Agreement entered into some months before.
Any celebration became strictly forbidden, and any attempt of commemorating the 17th May could be a reason to be imprisoned. But the King’s attitude gradually softened up over time and in 1833 the first national manifestation was organized. After King Carl Johan died in 1844, his son, Oscar I, took over his position, and the celebration of our national day became freely. I am happy to reassure you all, that this is all history and that Norway and Sweden today have a strong, close and reinforcing relationship.
On this day, as we celebrate national freedom and sovereign independency, we are at the same time witnessing the deep tragedy of war playing out in Europe. So please allow me to express my sympathy and compassion with the Ukraine people and their efforts to defend themselves and survive an unprovoked aggression. This blatant violation of international law and humanitarian law disturb us all. May this war end and peace be restored as soon as possible.
The 17th of May is also a day of reflection on Norway’s role on the international scene. Reflection on our dependence on Europe and the global community. And the importance for us to reach out and engage pro-actively with others.
Our shared democratic values are the strongest assets we have as we navigate through a most unpredictable security landscape that has emerged around Europe through the last years. Not to say within Europe through the last three months.
We have to remind ourselves about that, because these values must be cultivated, protected and invested in. The European Union is for us not only the most important trading partner. Our shared values and strong independent institutions serve also as a bulwark against any backsliding into the darker corners of European history. Continued partnership between friends is still the best and most effective way to address and defend these values.
But it has not always been like this. Our forefathers (ancestors) from the Middle Ages had quite another take on “reaching-out” and “pro-active engagements”. The Vikings left a longstanding impression of expansionism, violence and ruthlessness. By using their advanced and fast-going longships, they reached out to most of the shores in Europe and pillaged whatever that came in their way. The devastating Viking attack on Lindisfarne, Northumbria in 793, the very heart of the Anglo-Saxon Christianity, is considered to be the dawn of the barbaric and lawless “Viking Age”. This attack sent shockwaves across the whole of Europe. And the word “Northmen” became a trigger for panic.
In the early 12th century, the Serb people also got an opportunity to learn a bit more about this Norwegian culture. Before returning back to Norway from the Holy Land in 1111, King Sigurd the Crusader travelled with his loyal soldiers and kinsmen through Smederevo and Belgrade. King Sigurd was the son of Magnus III, nicknamed the Barefoot, whose infamous foreign policy was marked by aggressive and brutal military campaigns and conquests.
Upon Pope Paschall II’s pleading request, King Sigurd and his 6000 men had reconquered Szidon at the Lebanese coast and defended the Kingdom of Jerusalem, leaving the enemies in tatters. Now they travelled back on horsebacks.
Coming into to Serbia from the East, king Sigurd advanced as expected when approaching Smederevo. They settled in and took hold of whatever they wanted to have by brutal force. How many dwellings, huts and farmhouses which were left untouched is an open question. Snorre Sturlason, the famous poet and historian of the Medieval Iceland, wrote in one of his King Sagas that the rumours of the brutal and infamous Northmen’s encounter with the local population of Smederevo spread instantly as a warning to every settlement in the region.
Continuing westwards, reaching Belgrade and moving along what we believe today is known as the Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra, King Sigurd and his entourage surprisingly met only friendliness and tributes.
According to Snorre, the local people of Belgrade acted strategically smart, and treated him and his large retinue with exquisite hospitality. This made the day, and King Sigurd and his men enjoyed the stay in Belgrade in a peaceful way.
Coming back to our time, I am happy to see that our methods in international politics have moved somewhat beyond the modus operandi of King Sigurd and his loyal men.
Crusades have been replaced by human rights conferences, and swords by champagne and culinary meals. Instead of pillaging our close and more distant neighbours, we are now financing projects promoting democratic values and fundamental rights. We even take measures to de-escalate conflicts, and promote dialogue as the key instrument to facilitate peace and reconciliation. Because today we believe it is in our national interest to strengthen international cooperation in a peaceful way, to build alliances based on common values and principles. And, not to forget, strengthen the international order by enhancing legal measures and advancing human rights. Our prosperity has today become intrinsically linked to friendly relations, good behaviour and constructive cooperation.
Our cooperation with Serbia goes in the very same direction. We are geographically apart, but our interests align. We are integral parts of the European construct and bound to the European future. At the bilateral level, we are working hard to strengthen both our political, economic and cultural ties.
Our relationship with Serbia takes place both at the high political level such as the recent dialogue between President Vučić and Prime Minister Støre, as well as in dialogue with sector ministries and government bodies of key societal areas. Subjects like energy, environment protection, education and rule of law are core elements of the agenda. Thanks to seven strong partnerships between friendship municipalities in our two countries, dialogue also takes place at the very local level. And not to forget, our cooperation with the Civil Society.
Moreover, we also rely on close ties with our implementing partners. Thanks to extensive cooperation with the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the UN; Norway and Serbia are jointly able to implement a variety of projects to the benefit of the Serbian people. Whether this is about economic diversification, green technology and innovation, or good governance, freedom of speech and democracy at large. Our common efforts and fruitful cooperation in the last decades have delivered tangible results, and also brought our two peoples closer together.
To conclude, please let me inform you all about what will happen next.
First of all, the national anthems of Norway and Serbia will soon be performed. The Norwegian national anthem will be performed by our young talent Agnes Svenneby, and the Serbian national anthem by Natasa Tasic Knezevic and Nobojsa Babic.
Then, two great musicians will then be called to the stage, Daniel Lazar on violin and Almir Meskovic on accordion. Both musicians are from this region, respectively Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina, and are both graduates from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. With their musical roots from the Balkans mixed with Scandinavian, classical and Romani music elements, we have really something to look forward to.
Tonight we will also present two Norwegian specialities served from the table right outside in the garden/ inside close to the entrance. Both are highly recommendable. The salted, dried and cured leg of lamb/ fenalår has normally a curing time of a year or more. Fenalår, which is the name in Norwegian, is a very popular dish in Norway, and is often served at the Norwegian Constitution Day.
The Norwegian equivalent to the Rakija - the akevitt - will also be served tonight. This is a real treat, but dangerous. This flavoured spirit has been produced in Norway since the 15th century, basically distilled from either grain or potatoes. The word aquavit is derived from Latin aqua vitae, "water of life". I would really recommend you test out these specialities. But be careful!
Once again, the Embassy really do appreciate your presence today and we will all raise our glasses and propose a toast for a happy and enjoyable Constitution Day, as well as for the excellent relationship between Norway and Serbia!
Skål! Ziveli!
