Thank you for all your compassion
The Norwegian Barents Secretariat would like to express its deep appreciation for the many condolences and messages of heartfelt sympathy after the terrible terrorist attacks in Oslo and on Utøya last Friday.
- We are very grateful for all the support friends and colleagues all over the world have shown us during the last days, says Head of the secretariat Rune Rafaelsen. – It is very comforting for us to know that so many people support us in this tragic moment in the history of Norway.
76 people were killed and nearly 100 wounded in the bomb explosion in the executive government quarter of Oslo and the massacre at a summer camp organized by the youth organization of the Norwegian Labour Party on the island of Utøya in Tyrifjorden, Buskerud.
Many of the killed were young people in the age between 14 and 20. They came from all regions of Norway.
On Monday afternoon, hundreds of thousands of Norwegians took to the streets to participate in memorial meetings and torchlight processions all over the country. In Oslo an estimated 200 000 people attended a “flower march”.
At Norwegian embassies and consulates all over the world, people have placed candles and flowers and signed protocols of condolences. All the Nordic countries remembered the victims for this tragic event with one minute of silence Monday at noon.
The Norwegian Honorary Consulate of Norway in Arkhangelsk has had many visits of Russians wishing to express their sympathy. Late Sunday evening people started to gather near the office with candles and flowers.
- There are practically no people who are indifferent to the dreadful tragedy which occurred in Oslo on July 22, said the participants of the memorial event. Especially in Arkhangelsk, a town with strong and long-term relations with the Northern neighbor. Words of condolence and sympathy to the Norwegian people were pronounced by Arthur Chilingarov, First Deputy Leader of the parliamentary fraction “United Russia” in the State Duma and Ernest Belokorovin, Secretary of the regional section of the party “United Russia” and Minister of transport and communication of the Arkhangelsk oblast.
Here are some of the condolences the Norwegian Barents Secretariat has received in course of the last days:
“Words can’t begin to describe how sorry we feel today. Our hearts and prayers and all our strength stand with you in these hard days”.
“No word can express the pain for the loss of so many innocent lives and no excuse can be found for the senseless acts of violence. These days our hearts go with the people of Norway as we mourn the victims of this terrible crime together”.
“We are deeply sorry for the news about the tragedy in Oslo and on Utøya that took the lives of so many innocent people. We want to express our deep grief over those that passed away untimely, whose lives ended so early”.
“It is with utter shock that, along with the entire world, we have learned of the recent tragedy of the people in your country. Please accept our deepest condolences that we wish to convey to you, your colleagues, friends and beloved in Norway. May the long history of your country’s achievements on behalf of humanity that has resulted from the finest human virtues of your people, serve you all as the supreme source of strength and trust in humanity that marks your country despite the horror of evil to which it has been now subjected”.
