Norwegian Prime Minister Store spoke in parliament on allegations of Epstein connections

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store spoke at a hearing-like meeting held by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) Control Committee within the scope of the investigation of Norwegian officials' connections with Epstein.

Store, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Norway between 2005 and 2012, stated that the Control Committee evaluated the allegations that the hierarchical structure and rotation system of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs could lead to "nepotism and corruption" and said, "I reject these. I believe that our routines work quite well." he said.

Store argued that there was no connection to Epstein in Norway's support for the International Peace Institute, a think tank based in New York, USA.

Stating that their relations with the Institute are positive, Store stated that statements such as "unhealthy corporate culture" for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a result of individual actions are wrong.

Regarding the allegations that Terje Rod-Larsen, the former Norwegian diplomat mentioned in the Epstein documents, used his position to launder the reputations of some people through IPI while he was president, Store said, "During my period, impartiality was the focal point in the Ministry, but (Rod-Larsen) should have personally clarified the situation regarding his impartiality. This is an individual responsibility." he said.

Foreign ministers who have served in the last 20 years will testify within the scope of the meetings that will continue tomorrow in the Norwegian Parliament. In this context, it was stated that the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, will make a speech in the parliament tomorrow.

The names of many Norwegian officials, such as Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, former diplomat Rod-Larsen and his wife Mona Juul, former Amman Ambassador, and former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland, were mentioned in the Epstein documents.

Jeffrey Epstein affair

Epstein, who was awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing dozens of girls under the age of 18 and creating a prostitution network, was found dead on August 10, 2019, in his cell in New York's Manhattan Metropolitan Central Prison, where he was detained.

The announced Epstein case files included famous names such as former Prince Andrew, US President Donald Trump, former US President Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, former US Vice President Al Gore, actor Kevin Spacey, singer Michael Jackson, illusionist David Copperfield, lawyer Alan Dershowitz and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also announced that, as a result of its investigation with the US Department of Justice, no evidence was found that a "client list" of famous names was kept, and that it was concluded that Epstein, who was claimed to have been killed to cover up the crimes of people including government officials, celebrities and business people, actually committed suicide in his cell.