Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, dear assembly,

We will forever remember 22nd July 2011 as a dark day in Norwegian history.  Our country was struck by terror. Seventy seven people were killed. Many were critically or seriously injured. The testimonies of the survivors are heart-breaking.

What we have experienced together is still difficult to comprehend.

It was an attack against our government, against our values and against our community. An entire nation is suffering pain and loss. The international community is full of compassion for those in mourning.

Some Members of the Storting were on Utøya. Others are next of kin.

On behalf of a united Storting, I express our deepest sympathy with all those who have been affected by the tragedies at the government offices and on Utøya.

Without the heroic actions of those present in both Oslo and around Utøya, our loss may have been greater.

On behalf of the Storting, I express our deep gratitude to the police, medical staff, the fire service, voluntary organizations and local authorities. I would like to thank the local community and those at the campsite at Utøya. People who, without consideration for their own safety, used boats to rescue young people from Utøya. The young people from the Labour Youth League themselves demonstrated great courage in rescuing their companions.

You were there in our moment of need. You saved many lives.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your heroic efforts.

I would like to convey the Norwegian people’s sincere thanks to the King and Queen and to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. You have shared our sorrows. When we have lacked words, you have conveyed our thoughts and feelings.

I know that I speak for a unified Storting and the entire nation when I pay a special thanks to the Prime Minister and his Government for the way they have led the nation through the most critical situation we have experienced during times of peace. The government offices may be wrecked, but our country’s Government is not.

I would also like to express our gratitude for the all-party solidarity we have seen from the leaders of our political parties. The Government and Labour Youth League were the targets of the terror. But all of our democratic parties feel its impact.

One of the things that has attracted international attention is the absence of vengeful expressions from the Norwegian people.  When we were put to the test, we demonstrated the nation we want to be through our actions.

The entire Norwegian nation has gathered in unity, young and old alike, regardless of political and religious affiliation.

In the days following the catastrophe, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets. An enormous wave of candles and flowers has swept the land. We hear a resounding “Yes!” to unity and solidarity with those affected, and a resounding “No!” to violence and terror. Nobody should underestimate the power and resolve behind these actions.

I feel profoundly humbled to represent the Norwegian people. It is a privilege to lead a people who collectively know how to do the right thing.

This is the very reason why, even when the nation has suffered enormous human loss, we should remain committed to the democratic principles our society is built upon.

It is natural to feel angry about these outrages. But even when the pain is deepest, our response should be founded on the rule of law. We must forge strength from anger.

The 18th century French philosopher Voltaire said the following to an adversary: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.”

We should be tolerant of controversial and unconventional opinions. Even outrageous ones. Extreme points of view must be confronted and opposed with the force of reason, not censorship.

Yet it is also the responsibility of society to prevent extreme views from resulting in actions that violate or harm other people. Such actions must be fully dealt with under the principles of the justice system.

When we encounter hatred of those who are different, our response should be to promote diversity. We should not be afraid of those who do not share our particular beliefs, but of those who hate anyone that thinks differently to themselves.

We are justly proud of our open and safe society that makes it natural for people to meet their politicians face to face in our streets and towns. Terror must not result in a greater distance between the electorate and the elected. Direct contact between the people and our elected representatives is the foundation of our representative democracy.  We want to continue in this manner. We will continue in this manner. The people shall be governed by their elected representatives.

One profound impression from these past days is the message from our young survivors. Their message that terror must not result in hate, but in more love and compassion; not in fear, but in commitment and participation.

Many of us have adopted the words of these young people. Now we have to share the responsibility for converting these words into action. The reactions have been manifold. People have taken to the streets. Joined processions. Offered flowers, candles and children’s drawings. Priests and Imams have stood shoulder to shoulder.

All our political parties’ youth organizations have seen a surge in applications for membership and willingness to participate.

Democracy has demonstrated its strength and determination when put to the test. Elections are a democracy’s most important single process. Regardless of how people vote, it is critical that we do vote in this autumn’s elections.

Building democracy is building community. This is our common responsibility. By supporting our children’s football team. By pulling together for the local neighbourhood. By caring for those less fortunate. And by treating other people with openness and respect. We can listen to those who are different from ourselves instead of stigmatizing them. And we can all consider how, as individuals, we can promote more understanding and respect for one another.

Positive change is difficult to achieve, not least if we think that it means that only other people have to make the change.  Perhaps we should all start by spending a little time reflecting upon what we can change in order to bring about more understanding.

Perhaps this would also be a good opportunity for those of us who are elected representatives to reflect upon and reassess our own positions.  Democracy involves opposing opinions and open debate. Are there times when we disagree with our adversaries, in spite of our better judgment? When we choose to interpret their opinions in the worst light? Or when we allow ourselves to respond without actually finding out what they have actually said?

Perhaps we should also think about the language we use. Do we express ourselves in a way that allows Norwegian society as a whole to feel we are representing it, and that allows all our people to feel that they belong to it?

In 1945 the Norwegian author Haldis Moren Vesaas said, and we say again today:
It is no longer about me.
From now on it is about we. 

Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, dear all,

Some dark days are behind us. There are more ahead. We must continue to care for those affected in the months and years to come. We must continue to develop democracy.

The Norwegian people have responded to calculated outrages with compassion.

A single sentence has been etched into the national consciousness. Transmitted around the world, it has symbolized the best of our younger generation.  Let us make a common commitment to embody the message of the AUF girl Helle Gannestad: 
“If one man can create so much hate, imagine how much love we can create together.”