Riapanonias

Not sure where i were supose to post this but i though that maybe some one that was intrested would read about norway and u will se its not that boring..

The Kingdom of Norway enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Its prosperity is due in large part to the discovery in the late 1960s of off-shore oil and gas deposits.

More than half of Norway's exports come from this sector.

OVERVIEW



OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA


Norway declared its independence in 1905 when the union with Sweden was dissolved. Norway's people value their independence and prosperity highly. The Norwegians rejected membership of the then European Economic Community in 1972, and of the European Union in 1994, despite being urged by their governments to vote "yes".


Over the last decade, Norway has forged a stronger role for itself in international politics. It has mediated between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and fostered contact between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatists.

Norway has a rich, sea-faring tradition and its lengthy, rugged coastline has been central to its development. More than one-thousand years ago, Viking raids on the coasts of Britain and France were commonplace. The Vikings also mounted expeditions to the coast of North America.

Later, the Norwegians began to trade. Originally, the coastal waters provided fish for export. Today, Norway is among the world's largest exporters of fuels and fuel products.


Norway registered objections to the 1986 International Whaling Commission (IWC) ban on whaling and resumed the practice on a commercal basis in 1993. It argues that whaling is no more cruel than fishing and that stocks are sufficient to allow it to continue. Conservationists disagree.
NORWAY FACTS
Population: 4.5 million (UN, 2003)
Capital: Oslo
Major language: Norwegian
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Norwegian krone = 100 ore
Main exports: Fuels and fuel products, machinery, metal products
Average annual income: US $35,630 (World Bank, 2001)
Internet domain: .no
International dialling code: +47

King: Harald V

Prime Minister: Kjell Magne Bondevik


Prime Minister Bondevik

Mr Bondevik, a Lutheran priest, heads a centre-right coalition which took power in October 2001 after the Labour Party suffered its worst general election result in 90 years.

It is a minority alliance, with just 62 of 165 seats in parliament, comprising Mr Bondevik's Christian People's Party, the bigger Conservative Party and the small Liberal Party.

The parties won voter favour by promising to improve public services, while cutting taxes and using more of the oil wealth to make up the difference.

The three parties agreed not to broach the question of a renewed Norwegian application for membership in the European Union (EU).

Mr Bondevik included eight women among his 19 ministers in line with a Norwegian tradition to have at least 40% women in government.

This is Mr Bondevik's second term as prime minister. He held the job from 1997 until March 2000, when an environmental dispute brought down his centrist minority coalition.
MEDIA

Norway's public broadcaster, NRK, monopolised the airwaves until 1981, when the first local radio and TV stations opened. Since then, private local and national stations have built up substantial audiences, competing with NRK for listeners and viewers.

Digital television - via cable and satellite - is growing in popularity and offers a wide range of specialist channels. Plans are afoot for a digital terrestrial TV service.

A second national commercial radio network is set to take to the air in January 2004.

Norwegians are among the world's keenest newspaper readers. The number of publications is impressive, given the country's small population. Most of the press is privately-owned and openly partisan.

Press freedom is guaranteed by the constitution and public radio and TV broadcast without interference from the government.

The press


VG - large-circulation national daily
The Norway Post - English language
Aftenposten
Aftenposten - English page
Dagbladet - large-circulation national daily
Morgenbladet
Television


NRK - public broadcaster, operates national channels NRK-1 and NRK-2
TV2 - national, commercial; NRK's main competitor
TV3 Norge - commercial, via satellite
TV Norge - commercial, via satellite and terrestrially
Radio


NRK - public broadcaster, operates three national stations and local services
P4 - national, commercial
Kanal 4 - commercial, awarded national licence
Radio 1 - commercial, music