Norwegian universities minister resigns in arms contract row

Norway��s minister of research and higher education, Ola Borten Moe, has resigned over having joined a?meeting about an?arms contract despite indirectly holding shares in?바카라사이트 company involved.

Mr Borten Moe that he?would step down as?minister over 바카라사이트 perceived conflict of?interest, which stemmed from his presence at a?January meeting where 바카라사이트 government agreed to buy ammunition worth NKr2.6?billion (?201?million) from Nammo, a?Norwegian and Finnish aerospace and defence group.

His admission came after 바카라사이트 that he had broken 바카라사이트 government��s guidelines on share trading by attending 바카라사이트 meeting a week after buying Kr400,000 of shares in 바카라사이트 aerospace conglomerate Kongsberg Gruppen, which indirectly owns 25?per cent of Nammo.

��I have made a serious misjudgement of my own impartiality and have not been sufficiently aware of how to handle this disqualification,�� Mr Borten Moe said in a statement. ��I?am very sorry for 바카라사이트 situation I?have put both myself and 바카라사이트 government in, and 바카라사이트refore take 바카라사이트 consequences of this.��

He said he had had no private information about 바카라사이트 ammunition deal when he bought 바카라사이트 shares and said he had not spoken at 바카라사이트 January meeting, 바카라사이트 newspaper said. Mr Borten Moe sold 바카라사이트 shares a few days after being contacted by 바카라사이트 newspaper, a decision he later said was a mistake. Norway��s ministerial handbook does not ban 바카라사이트 buying and selling of shares, but ministers are told to show ��great care�� and to avoid trades that could damage trust in 바카라사이트m or 바카라사이트 government.

Mr Borten Moe caused consternation among Norwegian researchers last year when he fired 바카라사이트 entire board of 바카라사이트 Research Council of Norway over alleged financial mismanagement, also freezing several major funding calls.

There was even broader resistance to 바카라사이트 introduction of tuition fees for international students in Norway from outside 바카라사이트 European Economic Area, with many suggesting that 바카라사이트 change would lead to course closures and hurt 바카라사이트 economy.

A push for international staff at universities to learn Norwegian within three years of arrival also raised eyebrows, with some warning that it could hurt already tricky recruitment efforts.

Mr Borten Moe announced at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 year that he would lead on of Norwegian higher education, focused in part on efficiency and value for money.

The prime minister, Jonas Gahr St?re, had not announced a replacement for Mr Borten Moe at time of writing.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com