The Minnesota Capitol hosted a delegation of Norwegian officials last week.

 

“As a fellow Norwegian, I’m so pleased to host this delegation and welcome them to St. Paul and the Minnesota Capitol,” Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) said. “Minnesota and Norway share a strong cultural and ancestral heritage, and it’s wonderful to continue building these connections in the modern age.”

 

The guests included Mr. Lars Haltbrekken, Mr. Willfred Nordlund, and Mr. Bård Ludvig Thorheim, members of Parliament; Eivind J. Heiberg, the Norwegian Honorary Consul General; Liva Stang Rugsveen from the Royal Norwegian Embassy; and Bjørn Willy Robstad from the International Department of the Storting.

 

The group was recognized from the Senate floor during the day’s proceedings before observing the Senate conduct its business and pass several bills. After the senate adjourned session, they met with senators on the floor and posed for several photos, including one with a bust of Knute Nelson, a native of Norway who served as a Minnesota state senator, governor, and congressman.

The delegation was honored with an official Senate resolution (SR 16), which acknowledged the deep historical connections, lasting influences, and shared values of both Minnesota and Norway.