Norway names Mondale honorary consul

He agreed to take the post in Minneapolis, but Norwegian officials still plan to downgrade the consulate.

By Pam Louwagie, Star Tribune

Last update: December 5, 2007 - 11:24 PM

If the Norwegian government can't be persuaded to keep its consulate office open in Minnesota, this might be the next best thing: The state's most well-known politico with Norwegian ties is ready to serve in an honorary post.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale has agreed to take the role of honorary consul general in Minneapolis, officials announced Wednesday.

The statement came amid a struggle. For a couple of months, Norwegian officials have been planning to cut four staff members in Minneapolis and downgrade the consulate to "honorary" status. Local Norwegian-Americans mounted a spirited lobbying campaign to save it, sending a delegation to the old country just last week.

But Norway's steadfast Foreign Ministry officials left little question about their intentions with the announcement about Mondale on Wednesday.

Mondale, among those originally opposing the change, said he agreed to take the post because he was convinced "that we can make something positive out of what we've been through here the last couple of months. Instead of just closing down an office, we can actually put in place a kind of modern, updated approach here."

The current consul general, Rolf Hansen, said he expects that the office, which serves the Upper Midwest in visas, permits and other paperwork along with diplomatic matters, will be converted this summer.

Norway will provide Mondale with at least one staff assistant, Hansen said, which is more than most honorary consulates get.

"We are thrilled that [Mondale] was prepared to accept this nomination," Hansen said. "With his stature and experience he will obviously be an excellent honorary consul general."

A former ambassador to Japan, Mondale has maintained ties to his family's roots in Mundal, Norway. His grandfather emigrated from Norway in 1857.

Jeff Mueller, president of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce's Upper Midwest chapter, called Wednesday's announcement a "bold offensive move" by the Norwegian government.

Mondale "has the ability to make contacts and open doors that would otherwise be closed to anybody else. So there are certainly a lot of pluses that come with this," Mueller said. "But the bottom line is, an honorary consul, no matter what the stature, cannot fully replicate the activities of a career consulate."

For some, the fight may not be over.

Pam Louwagie • 612-673-7102

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