Thorvald Stoltenberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thorvald Stoltenberg
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 3 November 1990 – 2 April 1993 |
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| Prime Minister | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| Preceded by | Kjell Magne Bondevik |
| Succeeded by | Johan Jørgen Holst |
| In office 9 March 1987 – 16 October 1989 |
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| Prime Minister | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| Preceded by | Knut Frydenlund |
| Succeeded by | Kjell Magne Bondevik |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 8 October 1979 – 14 October 1981 |
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| Prime Minister | Odvar Nordli Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| Preceded by | Rolf A. Hansen |
| Succeeded by | Anders Sjaastad |
| United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees | |
| In office 1 January 1990 – 3 November 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Jean-Pierre Hocké |
| Succeeded by | Sadako Ogata |
| President of the Norwegian Red Cross | |
| In office 1998–2008 |
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| Preceded by | Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg |
| Succeeded by | Sven Mollekleiv |
| Norwegian Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office 1989–1990 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Vraalsen |
| Succeeded by | Martin Huslid |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 July 1931 Oslo, Norway |
| Died | 13 July 2018 (aged 87) Oslo, Norway |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Karin Heiberg |
| Children | Camilla Jens Nini |
Thorvald Stoltenberg (born 8 July 1931 – died 13 July 2018) was an important Norwegian politician and diplomat. He served as the Minister of Defence for Norway from 1979 to 1981. Later, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs twice, first from 1987 to 1989 and again from 1990 to 1993. These roles were part of governments led by the Labour Party.
From 1989 to 1990, he worked as Norway's ambassador to the United Nations. In 1990, he took on a big role as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This job helps people who have been forced to leave their homes. He held this position for about a year before returning to the Norwegian government. In 1992, Thorvald Stoltenberg helped create two important groups: the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the EuroFaculty. He did this with other foreign ministers from countries around the Baltic Sea and a leader from the European Union.
In 1993, he was chosen as a Special Representative for the UN Secretary-General. His task was to help with peace efforts in the former Yugoslavia. He also helped lead the Steering Committee for the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia. Thorvald Stoltenberg was also a witness for the UN when the Erdut Agreement was signed. This agreement was important for peace in the region.
He became the chairman of the board for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Idea (International IDEA) in 2003. From 1999 to 2008, he was the President of the Norwegian Red Cross. He was the only president to serve three terms in this role. He was also a member of the Trilateral Commission, a group that discusses global issues. In 2015, he was elected to the Oslo City Council, showing his continued involvement in local politics.
Contents
Early Life and Courageous Actions
Thorvald Stoltenberg was born in Oslo, Norway. His parents were Ingeborg and Theodor Emil Stoltenberg. When he was young, Thorvald showed great courage. In 1956, he helped organize the escape of Hungarian refugees. These people were fleeing the Soviet Army.
Saving Lives in Hungary
During one rescue mission, he was helping refugees escape by boat in the middle of the night. The water had strong currents. He bravely jumped into the water to save one of the boats. This act put his own life at risk. An American journalist named Barry Farber, who was also helping, later called this the bravest thing he had ever seen. Thorvald Stoltenberg kept this story a secret for many years. It was only revealed by Barry Farber on a Norwegian TV show in 2006.
Working for Peace in the Former Yugoslavia
In May 1993, Thorvald Stoltenberg was given a very important job by the UN. He became the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for the former Yugoslavia. This meant he was in charge of the UN's mission there. He was the main contact person for the UN's peacekeeping operations in New York.
Challenges of the SRSG Role
All communication between the UN peacekeeping force (UNPROFOR) in Zagreb and the UN in New York had to go through his office. Mr. Stoltenberg was responsible for making sure all UNPROFOR operations worked together. He also had to think about how political decisions would affect these operations and the actions of the groups fighting. It was a very difficult job to manage all these tasks at once. There were some disagreements between Thorvald Stoltenberg and General J. Cot, who was in charge of UNPROFOR.
By the end of 1993, the two main tasks were separated again. Stoltenberg continued to lead the peace talks in Geneva for the UN. On January 1, 1994, a Japanese diplomat named Y. Akashi took over as the SRSG. He was responsible for all UNPROFOR operations and talked with the leaders of the groups in conflict.
Important Political Views
Thorvald Stoltenberg was known for his strong opinions on various global issues. He believed in finding peaceful solutions and promoting human rights.
Ideas on Drug Policy
He joined an international group called the Global Commission on Drug Policy. This group included former leaders from Latin American countries. They worked to change drug policies to be less about punishment and more about helping people.
Views on Sanctions Against Israel
In 2010, Thorvald Stoltenberg joined 25 other experienced leaders. They sent a letter to leaders of the European Union. They asked for actions against Israel. They believed Israel was not following international laws. Other important people who signed the letter included Javier Solana and Mary Robinson.
Family Life
Thorvald Stoltenberg married Karin Heiberg in 1957. She passed away in 2012.
A Family of Public Servants
Their son, Jens Stoltenberg (born 1959), also became a politician. Jens served as the Prime Minister of Norway from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2013. He is currently the Secretary-General of NATO. Thorvald and Karin also had two daughters, Camilla and Nini. Thorvald Stoltenberg passed away on July 13, 2018, at the age of 87, after a short illness.
See also
In Spanish: Thorvald Stoltenberg para niños
