Vidar Helegesen, the former Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister who led his government’s facilitation mission in talks between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan government is now heading a Swedish intergovernmental organisation.
Mr. Helgesen left the Foreign Ministry after the change in government in Oslo in September 2005. He has taken up a post as the new secretary-general of the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
Mr. Helgesen served as Norway’s deputy minister of foreign affairs from October 2001 until October 2005. His portfolio included human rights and democracy, refugee issues, peace and reconciliation processes, and UN policy matters, IDEA pointed out in a statement announcing his appointment.
“We are very pleased to appoint Mr. Helgesen as our new secretary-general,” said IDEA Board Chairperson Lena Hjelm-Wallén.
“He will provide the leadership and vision necessary to reach IDEA’s aims, which are to promote and advance sustainable democracy worldwide and contribute to an increased effectiveness of democracy building”.
Mr. Helgesen lead Norwegian facilitatory efforts in Sri Lanka, chairing six rounds of talks between the LTTE and Colombo from September 2002 to March 2003.
Helgesen is the third IDEA secretary-general to lead the Institute, currently comprised of some 50 employees representing 26 nationalities. He will assume his responsibilities at IDEA’s Strömsborg headquarters on 17 January 2006.
Founded in 1995 as an initiative of the Swedish Parliament, IDEA is an intergovernmental organization with a mandate to promote sustainable democracy worldwide. It has 23 member states from six continents, and four international NGOs as associate members.
IDEA’s field offices are located in Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, Indonesia, Ghana, South Africa and Armenia.
The IGO says it “works with both new and long-established democracies to help develop and strengthen the institutions and culture of democracy,” focussing on three thematic areas: “democracy building and conflict management; electoral processes; and political parties, with gender as a cross-cutting topic.”
In all three areas, the Institute says it seeks “to contribute to improved design and effectiveness of key democratic institutions, and to contribute to strengthened democratic processes.”
In the past 10 years, IDEA has produced more than 100 publications in 10 languages for democracy practitioners.
Mr. Helgesen left the Foreign Ministry after the change in government in Oslo in September 2005. He has taken up a post as the new secretary-general of the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
Mr. Helgesen served as Norway’s deputy minister of foreign affairs from October 2001 until October 2005. His portfolio included human rights and democracy, refugee issues, peace and reconciliation processes, and UN policy matters, IDEA pointed out in a statement announcing his appointment.
“We are very pleased to appoint Mr. Helgesen as our new secretary-general,” said IDEA Board Chairperson Lena Hjelm-Wallén.
“He will provide the leadership and vision necessary to reach IDEA’s aims, which are to promote and advance sustainable democracy worldwide and contribute to an increased effectiveness of democracy building”.
Mr. Helgesen lead Norwegian facilitatory efforts in Sri Lanka, chairing six rounds of talks between the LTTE and Colombo from September 2002 to March 2003.
Helgesen is the third IDEA secretary-general to lead the Institute, currently comprised of some 50 employees representing 26 nationalities. He will assume his responsibilities at IDEA’s Strömsborg headquarters on 17 January 2006.
Founded in 1995 as an initiative of the Swedish Parliament, IDEA is an intergovernmental organization with a mandate to promote sustainable democracy worldwide. It has 23 member states from six continents, and four international NGOs as associate members.
IDEA’s field offices are located in Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, Indonesia, Ghana, South Africa and Armenia.
The IGO says it “works with both new and long-established democracies to help develop and strengthen the institutions and culture of democracy,” focussing on three thematic areas: “democracy building and conflict management; electoral processes; and political parties, with gender as a cross-cutting topic.”
In all three areas, the Institute says it seeks “to contribute to improved design and effectiveness of key democratic institutions, and to contribute to strengthened democratic processes.”
In the past 10 years, IDEA has produced more than 100 publications in 10 languages for democracy practitioners.
 Mr. Helgesen (c) pictured at a press conference in September 2002 with Sri Lanka's Chief Negotiator, Prof. G. L. Peiris (l) and LTTE Chief negotiator, Mr. Anton Balasingham. |
