Thorvald

Former Norwegian politician Thorvald Stoltenberg late on Thursday in Belgrade received the charter making him an honorary citizen of the Serbian capital.

Stoltenberg addressed the ceremony to say the day was very important for him because he received the award not only in his own name, but as a representative of thousands of his compatriots.

BELGRADE - The Nordic model of cooperation is achievable in the Balkans under the umbrella of the European Union, says former Norwegian minister and diplomat Thorvald Stoltenberg.

In an interview published on the official website of Norway in Serbia, Stoltenberg, 84, said that EU membership of Balkan countries would increase economic stability in the region.

Russian and Austrian artists, Norwegian politician honored

BELGRADE -- Austrian writer Peter Handke, Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov, and Norwegian politician Thorvald Stoltenberg have been named honorary citizens of Belgrade.

All councilors groups in the Serbian capital city's assembly supported the decision, although the Democratic Party (DS) voiced some criticism.

BELGRADE - The Belgrade City Council adopted and forwarded to the City Assembly the proposal to declare prominent Norwegian politician Thorvald Stoltenberg an honorary citizen of the Serbian capital.

The initiative was launched by President of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence Sonja Licht, the city's press service said in a release on Thursday.