The EastWest Institute would like to acknowledge the passing of Thorvald Stoltenberg, noted Norwegian politician and the country’s former foreign and defense minister.

Mr. Stoltenberg passed away on July 13 at the age of 87. 
 
“We receive the news of Mr. Stoltenberg’s passing with deep sorrow,” commented Ambassador Cameron Munter, CEO & President of the EastWest Institute. “Mr. Stoltenberg was a true statesman, a diplomat and humanitarian who garnered global respect from everyone that had the pleasure of working with him. He will be missed and remembered with the greatest of respect.”  

Mr. Stoltenberg was an active Board of Director at the EastWest Institute from 2003-2014.

A native of Norway, Mr. Stoltenberg enjoyed a long and distinguished political career, having served in three Labour governments, including as Minister of Defence (1979–81) and Minister of Foreign Affairs on two separate occasions (1987–89 and 1990–93).

As a diplomat he played a critical role as a peace broker in the Balkans in the 1990s and also served as president of the Norwegian Red Cross (1999-2008).

His son, Jens Stoltenberg, was Norway’s prime minister (2000-01 and 2005-13) and currently holds the role of NATO Secretary General.

Image: "Thorvald Stoltenberg" (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Arbeiderpartiet