OTTAWA — Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said he understands why Canadians feel they have been shouldering an unequal share of NATO casualties in Afghanistan, but he made no commitment to move Norway's 700 troops to the volatile southern part of the country.
"I understand that Canada feels that it had taken a big burden and we have respect for what Canada has done in Afghanistan," Mr. Stoltenberg said in an interview with The Globe and Mail, following a brief visit to the Muskoka region of Ontario yesterday.
However, he added, "Whether or not Norway is going to send troops to southern Afghanistan is something we haven't decided upon."
Like other NATO allies, the Norwegian leader encouraged Canada to remain in Afghanistan but would not be pinned down as to whether it should stick with its current combat mission in Kandahar. "Of course, we hope that Canada stays."
Norway is one of four NATO countries that Defence Minister Peter MacKay visited last week in an effort to build support for what Canada thinks should be a fairer share of troop strength in the country.
Of the 37 NATO nations and partners in the Afghan force, Norway is one that has avoided the more dangerous parts of the country, where Canada shares much of the burden with Britain, the Netherlands and the United States.
Mr. Stoltenberg noted that his coalition government has greatly expanded its contingent in Afghanistan over the past two years as it pulled its soldiers out of Iraq, where it had been backing the U.S.-led coalition. Norwegian troops, including 150 special forces, are based in the more stable northern and central parts of Afghanistan.
The move to the south is highly divisive politically within Mr. Stoltenberg's ruling coalition.
The Prime Minister insisted that his country is doing more than its share. "Norway has 4.5 million. Compared to our population, there's hardly any other country sending more troops to Afghanistan."
491
