OREANDA-NEWS. April 26, 2010. On the square in front of Norway's Royal Palace President Medvedev and his wife Svetlana met King Harald V of Norway, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The meeting was followed by a joint photography session inside the Royal Palace for the President of Russia, King of Norway and their spouses, and an exchange of gifts.

Later in the day Dmitry Medvedev met with President of the Norwegian Storting (Parliament) Dag Terje Andersen. In accordance with Norwegian protocol, the President of the Storting is the head of government while the King is the head of state.

In particular, Dmitry Medvedev and Dag Terje Andersen discussed the prospects for developing inter-parliamentary contacts. The Russian President supports the intensification of these relations, including via the participation of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. The meeting was attended by the governors of these Russian regions.

The President of Russia and President of Norway's parliament expressed their desire to develop contacts within inter-parliamentary structures where Russia and Norway currently cooperate actively, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Arctic Council, and Council of the Baltic Sea States.