Espen Barth Eide reacts after being called a “terrorist” by Palestine demonstrators

Crime and justice: There was a large police presence and disturbances when the foreign minister attended an event about Palestine in Bergen. He reacts to the protesters’ use of words.

– Expressing oneself and demonstrating is an important part of our democracy. But using words like terrorist is going too far. I wish that those who demonstrated could have been there and entered into a dialogue with me, as was the idea, says Espen Barth Eide (Ap) in a text message to The Bergen newspaper.

The police’s incident leader, Kent-Ove Haaland, tells BA that the people had to be taken out of the room because they were disturbing.

Eide is clear that it is important for him to be able to travel around Norway and talk to as many people as possible, and that it is central to developing policy and having a good debate about the difficult issues.

– The vast majority of those present listened attentively and asked good questions. We had a good meeting, says the foreign minister.

(© NTB)