“Today we are stopping the clock to remember the dead. We are doing so as one nation. Together we lost what we could not, and should not, lose. 77 lives.” Stoltenberg continued saying that as a nation Norway will eventually go back to everyday life but that there are three tasks that must be addressed in the spirit of solidarity experienced in connection with 22 July.
“We must continue to see those who have only just begun to walk the path of grief. We must strengthen our democracy, and we must take back our safety and security. Together we make an unbreakable chain of solidarity, democracy, safety and security. That is our protection against violence” the Prime Minister said.
The ceremony which, saw performances from some of Norway’s most prominent artists including a-ha, Ane Brun, Susanne Sundfør, Sissel Kyrkjebø and Ingrid Olava, was attended by 6000 guests in the Oslo Spektrum Arena. The decision to hold a national memorial ceremony for those who were killed or injured in the attacks on the 22 July was taken together with the political parties represented in the Norwegian National Assembly, the Storting.
The invited were bereaved families and survivors and their relatives, along with rescue workers from the health service, the police, the fire and rescue services, the armed forces, the civil defence and voluntary organisations, as well as individuals who took part in the rescue effort and those who have been involved in the follow-up work in the ministries. Representatives of the Labour Youth League, the Labour Party and the Norwegian authorities were also present.
The King and Queen also attended, together with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark were also present in addition to the presidents of Finland and Iceland and the prime ministers of all the Nordic countries. In his speech during the ceremony, the King said: “As a father, grandfather and husband, I can only imagine your pain. As this country's King, I feel with each and every one of you.”
The ceremony can be watched in its entirety on
NRK’s website