ناروۍ

ناروې /ˈnɔrweɪ/ (نارويژي: نورګه (بوکمول) يا نورېګ (نينورشک)), په رسمي توګه د ناروې پاچايي, په سهېلي اروپا کې د اساسي قانون پر بنسټ جوړ، يو پاچايي هېواد دی چې د سهېلي څنډو نه تر سوېلي څنډو پورې د لويديځې ټاپووزمې سکانډېنيويا برخه ده. د همدغه هېواد د پولو لويه برخه، په ختيځ کې د سويډن هېواد سره ده. د ناروې د ختيځو سيمې پولې د فېنلېنډ او د روسيې د هېوادونو سره نښتې دي په همدې توګه د دغه هېواد لويديځه خواې او سوېلي خواوې د سهېلي سمندر په اوبو کې راګير دي چې د همدغه سمندر له لارې د برتانيې پاچايي، د فارويه ټاپوانو او په سوېل کې د ډېنمارک سره خپلې ګډې سمندري پولې لري. د ناروې غځېدلې سمندري څنډه بيا په همدې توګه د سهېلي اطلس سمندر او د بارېنټ سمندر ته غځېدلې ده. دا هېواد د ګڼ شمېر خليجونو په درلودلو پېژندل کېږي.

In the 1920s, Norway annexed Jan Mayen and was given the sovereignty over the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Svalbard Treaty. The polar territories of Bouvet Island, Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land are external dependencies, but not parts of Norway. Norwegian claim for a sector of Antarctic mainland called Queen Maud Land is not recognised by the international community.

Becoming the first European nation to declare independence in the 20th century, since World War II Norway has experienced rapid economic growth, and is now amongst the wealthiest countries in the world. Norway is the world's fourth largest oil exporter and the petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of GDP. The oil industry is mainly situated outside and controlled from the oil capital Stavanger.

Norway also has rich resources of gas fields, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals. Norway was the second largest exporter of seafood (in value, after China) in 2006. Other main industries include food processing, shipbuilding, metals, chemicals, mining, fishing and pulp and paper products. Norway has a Scandinavian welfare model and the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation.

Norway was ranked highest of all countries in human development from 2001 to 2008. It was also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by Global Peace Index. It is a founding member of NATO.

تاريخ

Main article: History of Norway

Archeological finds indicate that there were people in Norway about 12,000 years ago. They probably came from more southern regions, that is northern Germany, and travelled further north along the Norwegian coastline.

In the 9th century, Norway consisted of a number of petty kingdoms. According to tradition, Harald Fairhair gathered the small kingdoms into one in 872 with the battle of Hafrsfjord. He became the first king of a united Norway.

The Viking age (8th to 11th centuries) was one of unification and expansion. The Norwegians established settlements on Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and parts of the British Islands, and attempted to settle at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada (it is the Vinland of the Saga of Eric the Red). Norwegians founded the modern-day Irish cities of Limerick and Waterford and established trading communities near the Celtic settlements of Cork and Dublin which later became Ireland's two most important cities.

In 1349, the Black Death wiped out between ⅓ and ⅔ of the Norwegian population, causing a decline in both society and economics. During this decline, the Fairhair dynasty died out in 1387. Royal politics at the time resulted in several personal unions between the Nordic countries, eventually bringing the thrones of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden under the control of Queen Margrethe when the country entered into the Kalmar Union with Denmark and Sweden. Sweden declared its independence in 1523, but Norway remained under the Danish crown until 1814. During the national romanticism of the 19th century, this period has sometimes been referred to as the "400-Year Night", since all of the kingdom's royal, intellectual, and administrative power was centred in Copenhagen, Denmark. Other factors also contributed to Norway's decline in this period. With the introduction of Protestantism in 1537, Norway lost the steady stream of pilgrims to the relics of St. Olav at the Nidaros shrine, and with them, much of the contact with cultural and economic life in the rest of Europe. Additionally, Norway saw its land area decrease in the 17th century with the loss of the provinces Båhuslen, Jemtland, and Herjedalen to Sweden, as a result of the wars between Denmark-Norway and Sweden.

After Denmark-Norway was attacked by England, it entered into an alliance with Napoleon, and in 1814 found itself on the losing side in the Napoleonic Wars and in dire economic conditions. The Dano-Norwegian Oldenburg king was forced to cede Norway to the king of Sweden. Norway took this opportunity to declare independence, adopted a constitution based on American and French models, and elected the Danish crown prince Christian Fredrik as king on May 17 1814. However, Sweden militarily forced Norway into a personal union with Sweden, establishing Charles XIII of Sweden as king of Norway (as Carl II). Under this arrangement, Norway kept its liberal constitution and independent institutions, except for the foreign service. See also Norway in 1814.

This period also saw the rise of the Norwegian romantic nationalism cultural movement, as Norwegians sought to define and express a distinct national character. The movement covered all branches of culture, including literature (Henrik Wergeland, Maurits Christopher Hansen, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Jørgen Moe, Henrik Ibsen), painting (Hans Gude, Adolph Tiedemand), music (Edvard Grieg), and even language policy, where attempts to define a native written language for Norway led to today's two official written forms for Norwegian; Bokmål and Nynorsk.

Peter Christian Hersleb Kjerschow Michelsen (March 15, 1857 – June 29, 1925), a Norwegian shipping magnate and statesman, was Prime Minister of Norway from 1905 to 1907. Michelsen is most known for his central role in the peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden on June 7 1905, and was one of Norway's most influential politicians of his day. Norway's growing dissatisfaction with the union with Sweden during the late 19th century, combined with National Romanticism and the awakening sense of nationality contributed to the dissolution of the union. The Norwegian government offered the throne of Norway to the Danish Prince Carl. After a referendum confirming the monarchy, the Parliament unanimously elected him king. He took the name of Haakon VII, after the medieval kings of independent Norway. In 1913, Norwegian women gained suffrage.

Norway was a neutral country during World War I. Norway also attempted to claim neutrality during World War II, but was invaded by German forces on April 9, 1940 (Operation Weserübung). The Allies also had plans to invade Norway, in order to take advantage of her strategically important Atlantic coast, but were thwarted by the German operation. Norway put up a stiff fight against the German occupation and armed resistance in Norway went on for two months. The battle of Vinjesvingen eventually became the last stronghold of Norwegian resistance in southern Norway in May, while the armed forces in the north surrendered in early June. King Haakon and the Norwegian government continued the fight from exile in Rotherhithe, London. On the day of the invasion, the collaborative leader of the small National-Socialist party Nasjonal Samling — Vidkun Quisling — tried to seize power, but was forced by the German occupiers to step aside. Real power was wielded by the leader of the German occupation authority, Reichskommissar Josef Terboven. Quisling, as minister president, later formed a government under German control. During the five years of Nazi occupation, Norwegians built a strong resistance movement which fought the German occupation forces with both armed resistance and civil disobedience. Notable was also the effort of the Norwegian Merchant Navy. At the time of the invasion Norway had the third largest, fastest and the most effective Merchant Navy in the world. It was lead by the Norwegian shipping company Nortraship under the allied force throughout the war and took part in every war operation from the evacuation of Dunkirk to the Normandy landings.

In 1944, the Germans evacuated the provinces of Finnmark and northern Troms, using a scorched earth tactic to create a vast area of No-man's land in response to the Red Army attacking their positions in eastern Finnmark. The Soviets attacked eastern Finnmark to create a buffer zone after pushing the German forces out of the arctic Kola peninsula. The Russians peacefully returned the area to Norwegian control after the war. The German forces in Norway surrendered on May 8 1945.

The occupation during World War II disturbed the Norwegians' confidence in neutrality, and they turned instead to collective security. Norway was one of the signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 and was a founding member of the United Nations, providing its first secretary general – Trygve Lie. Norway has twice voted against joining the European Union (in 1972 and 1994), but is associated with the EU via the European Economic Area. However, Norway is a member of the much smaller European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

سياست

Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government.

The Royal House is a branch of the princely family of Glücksburg, originally from Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. As it stands, however, the functions of the King, Harald V, are mainly ceremonial, but he has influence as the symbol of national unity. Although the constitution of 1814 grants important executive powers to the King, these are almost always exercised by the Council of State in the name of the King (King's Council, or cabinet). The reserve powers vested in the Monarch by the constitution are significant and an important security part of the role of the Monarchy, and were last used during World War II. The Council of State consists of a Prime Minister and his council, formally appointed by the King. Parliamentarism has evolved since 1884 and entails that the cabinet must not have the parliament against it, and that the appointment by the King is a formality.

Stortinget, Oslo

The Norwegian parliament, Stortinget, currently has 169 members (increased from 165, effective from the elections of 12 September 2005). The members are elected from the 19 counties for 4-year terms according to a system of proportional representation. The Storting divides itself into two chambers, the Odelsting and the Lagting when voting on legislation. Laws are proposed by the government through a Member of the Council of State or by a member of the Odelsting and decided on by the Odelsting and Lagting, in case of repeated disagreement by the joint Storting. However, in modern time the Lagting rarely disagrees and mainly just rubber-stamps the Odelsting's decision. Before the present Storting is a proposed constitutional amendment which would repeal the division.

Impeachment cases are very rare (the last being held in 1927 when prime minister Abraham Berge was acquitted) and may be brought against Members of the Council of State, or of the Supreme Court or of the Storting, for criminal offences which they may have committed in their official capacity. Indictments are raised by the Odelsting and judged by the Lagting and the Supreme Court justices as part of the High Court of the Realm. Apart from this, the Storting functions as a unicameral parliament.

The regular courts include the Supreme Court or Høyesterett (18 permanent judges and a chief justice), courts of appeal, city and district courts, and conciliation councils. Judges attached to regular courts are appointed by the King in council after nomination by the Ministry of Justice. The special High Court of the Realm, which consists of the Supreme Court plus the Lagting, hears impeachment cases.

In order to form a government, more than half (currently at least 10 out of 19 members) of the Council of State are required to belong to the Church of Norway.

جغرافيه

Main article: Geography of Norway

Reine, Lofoten, seen from top of Reinebringen (June, 2003).

The landscape is generally rugged and mountainous, with several major glaciers occupying central mountain plateau. Its coastline of over 83,000 kilometres (51,575 mi) is punctuated by steep-sloped inlets known as fjords, as well as a multitude of islands and islets. The northern part of the country is also known as the Land of the Midnight Sun because of its location north of the Arctic Circle, where for part of each summer the sun does not set, and in winter much of its land remains dark for long periods. In summertime in the southern part of Norway, the sun is only away for a few hours.

Norway is bounded by seas of the North Atlantic Ocean: the North Sea to the southwest and its large inlet the Skagerrak to the south, and the Norwegian Sea to the west. In the northeast is the Barents Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean. To the east, in order from south to north, it shares a long border with Sweden, a shorter one with Finland, and a still shorter one with Russia. Norway's highest point is the Galdhøpiggen at 2,469 metres (8,100 ft). With a maximum depth of 514 metres (1,686 ft), Hornindalsvatnet is Norway's and Europe's deepest lake.

The Norwegian climate is fairly temperate, especially along the coast under the influence of the Gulf Stream. The inland climate can be more severe and to the north more subarctic conditions are found, especially in Finnmark.

Climate data for some cities in different regions of the country; base period 1961-1990 (temperatures are 24hr average):

Location	Elevation		Temp/Jan		Temp/July		Temp/year		Precip/year
	(m)	(ft)	(°C)	(°F)	(°C)	(°F)	(°C)	(°F)	(mm)	(in)
Blindern (Oslo)	94 m	308 ft	−4.3°C	24.2°F	16.4°C	61.5°F	5.7°C	42.2°F	763 mm	30.0 in
Flesland (Bergen)	12 m	39.4 ft	1.3°C	34.4°F	14.3°C	57.7°F	7.6°C	45.7°F	2,250 mm	88.6 in
Værnes (Trondheim)	12 m	39.4 ft	-3.4°C	25.9°F	13.7°C	56.7°F	5.0°C	41.0°F	892 mm	35.1 in
Langnes (Tromsø)	8 m	26.2 ft	-3.8°C	25.2°F	11.8°C	53.2°F	2.9°C	37.0°F	1,000 mm	39.4 in

Data from Norges Meteorologiske Institutt (Norwegian Meteorological Institute). Note: Temperatures have tended to be higher in recent years (see main article).
Norwegian Meteorological Institute: The climate of Norway

فرهڼ

Main article: Culture of Norway

Brudeferden i Hardanger by Adolph Tidemand and Hans Gude, 1848

ناروې د ډېرو مخ کښو ليکوالانو ، ډرامه کښونکوکور دی. پدغو کې د بېلګې په ډول (( لودويګ هولبرګ[بارون لودويګ، هنرک ايبسن))، ((بيورنستيرنه بيورنسن))، او ډېر اوسيني لکه ((يون فوس))، او ((ګيورګ يوهانيسن))، هم د ناول او د ډرامې ليکونکي جايزه وال ((کنوډ کنوډسن))او ((سګري اونډست)) دواړو د نوبل (نومکښ نښان) ګټونکي دي . Norway is the home of several famous playwrights and novelists, among others Baron Ludvig Holdberg, Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and more recently, Jon Fosse, and Georg Johannesen, The playwright/novelists Knut Hamsun and Sigrid Undset, have both won the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1920 and 1928 respectively. Norway is the homeland of expressionist painter Edvard Munch and the sculptor Gustav Vigeland and romanticist composer Edvard Grieg. Many Norwegians have explored the farthest corners of the world, i.e. Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen, and Thor Heyerdahl.

Composers Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull, Christian Sinding and Arne Nordheim are recognised contributors to the Music of Norway. Among the contributors to pop music are A-ha, Röyksopp, Motorpsycho and Turbonegro. Norway is known for its large contributions to music, particularly in the black metal scene. Where such bands as Darkthrone, Enslaved, Burzum, Satyricon, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, Immortal, and Emperor have all made a name for themselves.

Norwegians celebrate their national day on May 17, the Norwegian Constitution Day. Many people wear bunad (which are traditional costumes or modern costumes, based on at least some traditional designs) and a majority of the nation (especially children and the Russ) watch or participate in the town parades taking place all over the country, a tradition founded by the poet Henrik Wergeland. The day was originally a celebration of national independence by the middle and upper class, while the working class celebrated 1 May. However, during the social democratic rule after World War II it became a major public feast, celebrated by all social classes. Attempts to make the day more political - especially in the 70's - have not had much effect.

See also: Norwegian Theatres, Norwegian films.

Main article: Norwegian language

The Norwegian language has two official written forms: bokmål and nynorsk. Additionally riksmål is much used, e.g. in press and literature.

Non-Norwegian languages like Sami and Finnish are also used in northernmost Norway by ethnic minorities.

ناروېژي ژبه

ناروېژي ژبه د جرمنک ژبو په کورنۍ پورې اړه لري . دا ژبه په هراړخيزه توګه له ډنمارکي او سويډني ژبې سره نژدې اړيکې لري. له ناروېژي ژبې سره جوخت سويډني ، ډېنمارکي ، فرويا او ايسلېنډي ژبې د شمالي جرمنک ژبو په کتار کې راځي ، چې دې پنځو ژبو ته سکېنډيناويايي ژبې هم وايي . زړه ناروېژي ژبه له نورون نه سرچينه رااخلي .

د ناروېژي ژبې لومړی پېر (700ز. - 1350ز.)

که څه هم د نورون لرغونې ژبه په څو ګړدودونو(لحجو) وېشل کېږي چې ټول هاغه خلک کوم چې په سکېنډيناويايي سيمو کې اوسېدل او اوسيږي هرې سيمې ځانته ګړدود درلوده اوتر اوسه ېې دا لړۍ روانه ده. خو دلته يوازې د ناروې د سيمې نورون لرغونې ژبه څېړو. دا لړۍ له 700م پېر نه تر 1350م پېر پورې رسېږي .د نورون ژبې ته زړه ايسلېنډي ژبه هم وېل کېږي دا ځکه چې په هغه پېرکې د نورون ژبې ډېری ليکلي اسار له ايسلېنډ نه پلاس راغلي، او هاغه پېر ته ناروېژيان د ناروېژيانواوايسلېنډيانو يو ګډژبني اوفرهڼګي پېرهم وايي . دې سره سره په ناروې کې چې د نورون لرغونې ژبې کوم اسار پلاس راغلي نو دوی ورته زړه ناروېژي هم وايي ځکه چې په ناروې کې ېې هم د نورون ژبې يوګړدود(لحجه) پاتې و اوله هغو څخه څو ليکلي اسار ترلاسه شوي . ناروېژيان پدې اند دي چې ددوی پخوانی نسل چې وايکنګز ( د درياب غله ) نومېدل دشمالي سکېنډيناويا په لور لاړل او خپل ځانوته ېې له ايسلېنډ نه نيولې تر فرويا او ورپسې نورو شمالي سيمو کې مځکې په زور ونيولې او همدلته مېشته شول. وايکنګان ډېرياغيان ، چپاولګران او غله و.او دوی وايي چې همدا وايکنګان و چې دغه نورون ژبه ېې کوله اوپدو کې هم څو ګړدودونه و. په همدې نورون کې دلرغوني پېر کړکيسې پاتې دي چې ډېری ېې د ليکلو په بڼه ترلاسه شوي . چې لاپورې ېې ليکوال څرګند نه دی. پدې اساروکې ځينې د ډبرليک په بڼه ځينې ېې دپاڼو په بڼه پاتې شوي چې ورته خپل خپل نومونه هم لري . پدې لرغونو اسارو کې د سيمو د بزګرانو کيسې،دهغوی ځينې نومونه او په هکله نور معلومات د شعر په بڼه راغونډ دي. لرغونپوهان وايي چې دا اسار په 1200 مې او 1300 مې پېړۍ کې ليکل شوي. د نورون لرغونې ژبه له اوسينۍ دواړوناروېژي ګړدودونو سره ډېر لوی توپير لري. خوبيا برعکس د نورون لرغونې ژبه له اوسينۍ ايسلېنډۍ ژبې سره ډېر ورته والی لري.

د ناروېژي ژبې دوهم پېر (1500ز. - 1850ز.)

له 1500مې پېړۍ نه تر1814مې پېړۍ پورې د ناروې په نوم ځانته هر اړخيزه خپلواکه هېواد نه موندل کېده. په اوسينۍ ناروې باندې د ډنمارک برلاسيتوب لورايه ښکاره کېده. ډنمارکي او سويډني ژبو د ځينو سيمه ايزو ناروېژي ګړدودونو سره سم به لکه کنډيباغي وېل کېده خو د ليکلو په بڼه به ډانمارکي چلېده. پدې ګډوډو ګړدودونو کې نه يوازې ډانمارکي او سويډني برلاسيتوب درلود بلکې د ايسلېنډي ژبې بنسټيزه ريښې هم لورايه ښکارېدې ورسره د جرمني ژبې ډيری وييکي به دهمغه پېرځينوسيمه ايزوملکانو،مزهبي مشرانو، سوداګرواو کاتبانو کارولې، اومزهبي مشرانو به په ټولنه کې ډېررول درلود. دا لړۍ تر 1550م پورې روانه وه کله چې په همدې کال کې په ډانمارکي ژبه کې بايبل (انجيل) راوواته او بيا دهمدې انجيل له کبله ناروېژيان د ليک او لوست جوګه شول. لدې نه وروسته د 1600مې نه تر 1700مې پېړۍ پېر د ډانمارکي ژبې لوړې ستحې معياري کېدل ګڼلای کېږي. دا ژبه به ناروېژيانو خپل په ګړدودونو سربېره کاروله، دا به د ناروېژي نسله مزهبي مشرانو په خولې کې لورايه ښکارېدله. ډېرو لږو خلکو نيمه سمه کارولی شوه. ډېرو به خپل په ګړدود غږېدل تر څو په 1814م کې ناروېژيانو د خپلواک هېواد لپاره هلې ځلې پېل کړې او د همدې کال د مۍ په 17مه نېټه ناروېژيانو پخپله يو اساسي قانون وليکه چې پکې ليکل شوي وو چې ناروې دې يو ازاده، خپلواک، او نه بېلېدونکی هېواد وي. که څه هم ناروې د ډنمارک له ولکې ووته خو د ډنمارک باچا دناروې واک او کړه وړه سويډن سره ګډ کړه اود سويډن باچا ته ېې د ناروې ټول واک وروسپاره. بيا ناروې د سويډن سره په ګډ واک کې تر 1905 م کاله پاته شوه.د ناروې دګډ واک لامل ېې ډېر ناروېژيان د خپلو نالوستوب ، ساده ګي ، او پوره په سياست نه پوهېدنه ګڼي . د سويډن څخه په کال 1905 م کې بېلېدنه او يو خپلواک هېواد کېدنه د ناروې د خپلواکۍ ورځ ګڼل کېږي . خو رسمن په ناروې کې د اساسي قانون د رامنځته کېدو نېټه چې 17م د مۍ 1814 م نه حسابېږي په خوښۍ او چشن ېې لمانځي . همدا نېټه د ډانمارک له اوږدمحالي برلاسي حکومت نه د خلاسون نېټه ګڼل کېږي. د ناروېژي اوسيني دوه رسمي ګړدودونه چې منځ ته راغلي ناروېژيان ېې له 1800مې پېړۍ نه اټکلوي. چې دې اوسينۍ رسمي ژبو ته بوکمول او نينوشک وايي ، که څه هم دواړه ژبې يوازې سيمه ايز ګړدودونه دي وييکي ، ژبدود او ليکدود ېې يو ډول دی غير له ځينې ويونو او تلفظ کې چې توپير ښکاري او بس.

د ناروېژي ژبې درېېم پېر (له بوکمول نه تر نينوشک)

ناروېژي ژبه په دوه لويو ګړدودونووېشل شوې ده ، چې دواړه ګړدودونه ېې په دوه سيمو وېشل شوي او دا دوه ګړدودونه خپل خپل نومونه لري چې ورته بوکمول او نينوشک وايي . بوکمول د حکومت په رسمي چارو کې لوی رول لوبوي چې ورته هوووډ مول وايي چې لفظي مانا ېې رسمي او لومړنی حدف راوځي. او په څنګ کې ېې بله سيمه ايزه ژبه يا ګړدود (نينوشک) ده چې ورته سيده مول وايي يعنې ورسره حدف په نوم يادېږي. که څه هم دا دواړه ګړدودونه د ناروې رسمي ژبې دي خو د ډانمارکي ژبې تر اغېزې لاندې راغلي او لومړی ګړدود چې بوکمول نومېږي ټوله د ډنمارکي تر اغېزې لاندې ده ،دا ځکه چې د بوکمول ژبې بنسټ ايښودونکی کنوډ کنوډسن ( زېږېدنه 1812..1895) وروسته له 1850مې نه د ډانمارکي ژبې نه ناروېژي بوکمول ژبه جوړونه پېل کړه او يوازې د ژبې د تلفظ په برخه کې ېې توپيرونه ښکاري چې په ننۍ ناروېژي رسمي ژبې پېژندل شوې او ډېر وييکي ېې د وخت دبدلون سره نوي شوي هم دي. نينوشک د ډانمارکي ژبې تر اغېزې ډېره کمه راغلې ، ځکه چې د نينوشک ژبې جوړونکی ايوار اوسن (زېږېدلی1813،1896) په کال 1842م نه تر 1848 پورې د نينوشک ژبې بنسټ کېښود. دا ژبه د ناروېژيانو په قول د ناروې له بېلابېلوګړدودونو نه جوړه شوې. او بل يوازينی او ځانګړی توپير ېې له بوکمول سره په ژبدوديزه برخه کې په غږيزه او ليکدوديزه څانګه کې ښکاري .

مذهب

Main article: Religion in Norway

Religion in Norway is overwhelmingly Protestant (Evangelical-Lutheran). Much due to a strong tradition of baptism, 89% of the population belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway which is the established religion. The Norwegians, like all of the peoples of Scandinavia, were pagans believing in Norse mythology; the Sámi having a shamanistic religion. Due to the efforts of Christian missionaries, Norway was forcibly Christianised in a gradual process starting at approximately 1000 AD and which was substantially finished by 1150AD. Prior to the Reformation, Norwegians were part of the Catholic Church with the conversion to Protestantism occurring in 1536. Islam is now the second largest religion due to recent migration trends although the census shows that there are more people with no religious beliefs.

Human rights in Norway

Freedom of expression is enshrined in paragraph 100 , Freedom of religion in paragraph 2 of the Constitution of Norway, though many consider this compromised in practice by the establishment of a state church. The press is not censored, but most editors adhere to self-imposed commandments of caution ("Vær Varsom-plakaten"). Public radio and TV broadcast mostly without interference from the government, although permission to broadcast depends on the programme spectrum.

The constitution forbids retroactive laws, punishment not based on laws and court decisions, and the use of torture. In 1999 the Human Right conventions of the United Nations and the Council of Europe were constituted as law in Norway, Menneskerettsloven. [۲] However, Norwegian Lawyers as well as the Council of Europe's Committee Against Torture have expressed their concern about unwarranted imprisonment of criminal defendants and the use of solitary confinement in Norway, deeming it torture. [۳] Also the treatment of refugees has been under discussion.

In 2005 the international conventions against discrimination of women and race discrimination were incorporated in, but not superior to, Norwegian law. Amnesty International has recently focused on violence against women in Norway and shortage of public services to victims of violence. [۴]

Norway has mandatory military service of 9-12 months for men between the ages of 18 (17 with parental consent) and 44. Conscientious objectors serve 12 months in an alternative civilian national service. If a candidate refuses to attend the check-up ("sesjon") they are liable to prosecution. If convicted, the objector is a prisoner of conscience by international standards.

Practising homosexuality was officially legalised in 1972; homosexual partnerships in 1993. According to Statistisk sentralbyrå (SSB) there were 192 homosexual partnerships recorded in 2004. Since 2002 it has become possible for homosexual partners to adopt each other's children from previous relationships, although joint adoption is still not allowed.

اداري وېشنې

Main article: Subdivisions of Norway

يوه سياسي جغرافيکي نخشه, exhibiting its 19 first-order subnational divisions (fylker or "counties")

Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called fylker (singular fylke) and 431 kommuner (singular kommune). Fylke and kommune are officially translated to English as county and municipality. The fylke is the intermediate administration between state and municipality. Note: The 19 fylker might be replaced with 5 - 9 larger regions by 2010.

The counties of Norway are:

• Akershus
• Aust-Agder
• Buskerud
• Finnmark
• Hedmark
• Hordaland
• Møre og Romsdal
• Nordland
• Nord-Trøndelag
• Oppland
• Oslo
• Østfold
• Rogaland
• Sogn og Fjordane
• Sør-Trøndelag
• Telemark
• Troms
• Vest-Agder
• Vestfold

See also Regions of Norway.

اقتصاد

Main article: Economy of Norway

Henningsvær, a fishing village in Lofoten during fishing season (April, 2001).

The Norwegian economy is an example of mixed economy, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector. The control mechanisms over the petroleum resources is a combination of state ownership in major operators in the Norwegian fields (Statoil ca 70% in 2005, Norsk Hydro 43% in 2004) while specific taxes on oil-profits for all operators are set to 78%, finally the government controls licencing of exploration and production of fields. The country is richly endowed with natural resources: petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals. Norway has obtained one of the highest standards of living in the world, partly from petroleum production but mainly from efficient economic policies, creating a good environment for doing business. Norway has a very high employment ratio.

In 2004, oil and gas accounted for 50% of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway, which is not a member of OPEC. The last 30 years, the Norwegian economy has shown various signs of the economic phenomenon called Dutch disease. In response to Dutch Disease, and to concerns about oil and gas reserve depletions, in 1995 the Norwegian state started to put away the annual surplus in a fund, now called Government Petroleum Fund. The fund is invested in developed financial markets outside Norway. The fiscal strategy is to spend the "normal interest" of the fund each year, set to 4 per cent. By January 2006, the Fund was at USD 200 billion, representing 70 per cent of GDP in Norway.

Norway opted to stay out of the European Union during a referendum in 1972, and again in November 1994. However, Norway, together with Iceland and Liechtenstein, participates in the EU's single market via the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. The EEA Treaty, between the EU nations and the EFTA nations, EØS-loven [۵], is constituted as superior law in Norway, which makes Norway a full member of EU's free trade market.

In 2000 the government sold one-third of the then 100% state-owned oil company Statoil. The economic growth was 0.8% in 1999, 2.7% in 2000, and 1.3% in 2001. After little growth in 2002 and 2003, the economy expanded more rapidly in 2004.

Recent research shows early evidence of massive amounts of coal beneath the oil-reserves on the continental shelf of Norway.. A rough estimate has been given at 3×10¹² tonnes of coal of unknown quality in these reserves. In comparison, the currently known coal reserves for the entire world is estimated at 0.9×10¹² tonnes. The coal is inaccessible today, but there are realistic hopes that it can be accessed in the future.

Animal rights and anti-whaling groups have commented that given Norway's economic position it is paradoxical that this is one of a very small number of countries actively engaged in, and favouring the continuation of, commercial whaling. This is despite the argued negligible contribution that whaling makes to the economy, and despite opposition from around the world ([۶]). Many supporters of whaling agree that its macroeconomic importance is negligible, but hold that the livelihood of individuals and small firms depend on it and that sustainable development depends on human harvesting of all non-endangered species ([۷]), and that it is an important part of culture in costal areas. Norway's whaling today is limited to the non-endangered Minke Whale, whom are killed using explosive grenade harpoons, which also accounts for more than 90% of the catch in Norwegian waters since the 1920s ([۸]).

1 Norwegian Krone = 0.159418442 U.S. Dollars

1 U.S. Dollar = 6.2728 Norwegian Kroner

1 Euro = about 7.99029264 Norwegian Kroner

As of Aug 16, 2006

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Norway

Borgund stave church

The size of the Norwegian population is around 4.6 million and is increasing by 0.4% per year (estimate July 2004). Ethnically most Norwegians are Nordic / North Germanic, while small minorities in the north are Sami or Finnish (see also Kven). The Sami are considered an indigenous people and traditionally live in the Northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The largest concentration of Sami people is, however, found in Norway's capital Oslo.

In recent years, immigration has accounted for more than half the population growth, and 7.9% of the population are immigrants as of 1 January 2005. The largest immigrant groups are Pakistanis, Swedes, Danes, Iraqis, Vietnamese and Somalis. (Here, immigrants are defined as persons with two foreign-born parents [۹].)

Approximately 86% of Norway's inhabitants are members of the state church, the Evangelic Lutheran Church of Norway. Other Christian denominations total about 4.5% (the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Pentecostal congregations, the Methodist Church, etc). Among other religions, Islam is the largest in Norway with around 1.5%, and other religions comprise less than 1% each, (including Judaism; see Jews in Norway). Around 1.5% adhere to the secular Human Ethical Union. As of 1 January 2003 approximately 5% of the population are unaffiliated ([۱۰]).

The Norwegian language has two official written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk. They have officially equal status, i.e. they are both used in public administration, in schools, churches, and on radio and television, but Bokmål is used by the majority. Around 95 percent of the population speak Norwegian as their native tongue, although many speak dialects that differ significantly from the written language. Nevertheless, all of the Norwegian dialects are interintelligible. Several Sami languages are spoken and written throughout the country, especially in the north, by the Sami people. The Germanic Norwegian language and the Finno-Ugric Sami languages are entirely unrelated. However, the Finnish language is distantly related to the Sami language.

International rankings

Organization	Survey	Ranking
International Monetary Fund	GDP per capita	2 out of 232 (2006)
United Nations Development Programme	Human Development Index	1 out of 177 (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001)
A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy	Globalization Index 2005	14 out of 111
Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal	Index of Economic Freedom	29 out of 155
Reporters Without Borders	Worldwide press freedom index	1 out of 166 (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002)
Save the Children	State of the World's Mothers 2004 Children's Index	1 out of 119
Save the Children	State of the World's Mothers 2004 Women's Index	6 out of 119
Save the Children	State of the World's Mothers 2004 Mother's Index	6 out of 119
Transparency International	Corruption Perceptions Index 2004	8 out of 145
World Economic Forum	Global Competitiveness Report 2005-2006	9 out of 117
Nationmaster	Labour Strikes	5 out of 27
The Economist	The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005	3 out of 111
Yale University/Columbia University	Environmental Sustainability Index, 2005 (pdf)	2 out of 146

دا هم وګورۍ

• Architecture of Norway
• Norwegian photography
• Holidays in Norway
• Infrastructure in Norway
  • Car numberplates in Norway
  • Communications
  • Power supply
  • Transportation
• Foreign relations of Norway
• Military of Norway
• List of cities in Norway
• List of national parks of Norway
• List of Norwegian companies
• List of Norwegian language radio stations
• List of Norwegian newspapers
• List of Norwegian television channels
• List of Norwegians
• List of people on stamps of Norway
• List of schools in Norway
• Norwegian literature
• Norwegian national football team
• Norwegian Premier League
• Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
• Regions of Norway
• Tourism in Norway
• Cuisine of Norway
• Norway and the European Union

باندنۍ تړنې

• Norway.info - Norway - the Official site
• Official website for the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, DC
• Minifacts about Norway from Statistics Norway
• History of Norway: Primary Documents
• ODIN Information from the Government and Ministries
• Official site of the Parliament (Stortinget)
• The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway
• The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
• Official site of the Royal House
• Directory of Norwegian regions and towns
• Norway.no - Official portal
• Encyclopaedia Britannica's Country Page - "Norway"
• Translated Norwegian legislation
• The Norwegian Constitution in English
• Sources to Legal Information in Norway
• Norges Bank - current notes and coins
• The Central Bank of Norway
• Public holidays in Norway
• Searchable map of Norway
• The Norwegian court system
• WTO: Trade Policy Review: Norway
• BBC Country Profile: Norway
• CIA Fact book: Norway
• Study In Norway