Norway to set up diplomatic mission in Baghdad

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway is to establish a diplomatic mission in Baghdad, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"Norway's ambassador in Amman (Jordan) will (continue to) be Norway's ambassador to Iraq but we are establishing an office and a diplomatic presence in Iraq," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bjorn Jahnsen said.

"We are doing this in cooperation with the Swedes, but there will also be Norwegian diplomats present," he said.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere is visiting Baghdad. Stoere will meet Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, Minister for Human Rights Michel Salim and officials from the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.

On May 15, the Norwegian and Iraqi authorities signed an agreement on the return of Iraqi nationals. Implementation of the agreement will be on the agenda, a ministry statement said.

"The Norwegian business sector is considering increasing its involvement in the Iraqi energy sector and this will also be a topic of discussion," it added.

(Reporting by Joachim Dagenborg, writing by Richard Solem)