Authorities wanted to give Israeli politician Norwegian passport.

Foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre accepts full responsibility for the proposal to give Israeli citizen, Yossi Sarid, Norwegian travel documents. He says he was aware of the offer, and doesn’t regret that it was put forward. I take full responsibility for it, says Støre.

VG (Norwegian newspaper) has given lots of media attention to the “special” offer the Norwegian UD (foreign department) gave Israeli politician and journalist Yossi Sarid. Indonesian authorities doesn't recognize the state of Israel and subsequently refuses to grant entry to Israeli citizens, so in order to circumvent this problem and get Sarid to a Norwegian-Indonesian conference on freedom of speech in Bali this coming Saturday, the Norwegian UD decided to give Sarid a Norwegian passport.

Poor taste.

-We chose an unconventional method in agreement with Indonesian authorities. It is not common practice, but sometimes it is necessary to consider whether using unconventional methods, within a specific time frame, is the correct thing to do.-

Sarid has strongly criticised the UD in VG for what he considers an inappropriate offer.

-He has now decided to turn down the offer, and I respect his decision says Støre.-

There have been rumours going around about the Indonesians not being aware of the invitation of the Israeli, since the UD sent the invitation directly to Sarid. This is something that Støre vehemently denies.

- Sarid was invited by both Norway and Indonesia. Sarid’s invitation was personally signed by the Indonesian president and the Norwegian prime minister. This is something that can’t be dismissed says Støre.

Støre says he doesn’t regret the offer, and tells the paper that he’s never considered calling off the conference.

-The conflict between Israel and Indonesia is not a new one. I personally believe that it would be a correct gesture to grant Sarid entry. But this conflict has been going on for years now, and the theme of this conference is not about this. We can’t allow a general debate on freedom of speech to only center around finding a solution to this conflict.-

Støre travels to Indonesia at the end of the week. The crisis that followed in the wake of the Mohammad cartoons is the main reason for the conference.

-This is a very important initiative from Indonesia, and one that we’ve decided to support. Eighty journalists from all over the world will gather in the worlds largest muslim nation, and one of the worlds largest developing democracies.

Indonesia has asked Norway to be a co-arrange the event, something Støre sees as a confirmation of the good relations that exist between the two nations.