He was born in Oslo, and worked at the University of Oslo from 1972 to 1980. He started working for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984, being promoted to assistant secretary in 1993. He served at the embassy of Norway in Moscow from 1996 to 1999, before returning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as head of the Eastern Europe department. He then served at the Norwegian ambassador to Azerbaijan from 2002 to 2006, and to Lithuania from 2006 to 2011.[1]
Azerbaijan protestsedit
Gil became notable for his outspokenness regarding the 2003 Azerbaijani protests and their aftermaths. During his ambassadorship, he criticized Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his "crude violence" towards protestors who were demanding fair elections and election transparency.[2] He stated:
"I saw harsh violence at the hands of the police. I saw a bloodied man. These people are not a threat. Azerbaijan had the chance to show that it was a normal country with democratic principles."[3]
Following his criticism of the Aliyev government, Gil was inundated with smear attacks from state media in Azerbaijan. In 2004, the parliament pushed for a motion to declare him a persona-non-grata.[4] He was declared the 'Ambassador of the Year' for 2003 by the Human Rights House Foundation.[5]
In 2006, a year following the protests, Gil left his position as ambassador to Azerbaijan and became the Lithuanian ambassador.
Referencesedit
^Henriksen, Petter, ed. (2007). "Steinar Gil". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
^Associated Press (22 May 2005). "Police arrest Azerbaijan protestors". Austin American-Statesman. pp. A9. Retrieved 14 Jun 2023.
^Mortished, Carl (24 May 2005). "Bloody battle mars opening of Caspian oilfield pipeline". Calgary Herald. pp. E4.
^"Norwegian Ambassador under attack". Human Rights House Foundation. 2004-07-16. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
^"HRH nominates Human Rights Ambassador". Human Rights House Foundation. 2004-01-06. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
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steinar, born, january, 1943, norwegian, philologist, diplomat, norwegian, ambassador, azerbaijanin, office, 2002, 2006preceded, byolav, berstadsucceeded, byhans, wilhelm, longvanorwegian, ambassador, lithuaniain, office, 2006, 2011succeeded, bydag, halvorsenp. Steinar Gil born 27 January 1943 is a Norwegian philologist and diplomat Steinar GilNorwegian Ambassador to AzerbaijanIn office 2002 2006Preceded byOlav BerstadSucceeded byHans Wilhelm LongvaNorwegian Ambassador to LithuaniaIn office 2006 2011Succeeded byDag M HalvorsenPersonal detailsBornSteinar Gil 1943 01 27 January 27 1943 age 81 NorwayEducationUniversity of OsloHe was born in Oslo and worked at the University of Oslo from 1972 to 1980 He started working for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984 being promoted to assistant secretary in 1993 He served at the embassy of Norway in Moscow from 1996 to 1999 before returning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as head of the Eastern Europe department He then served at the Norwegian ambassador to Azerbaijan from 2002 to 2006 and to Lithuania from 2006 to 2011 1 Azerbaijan protests editGil became notable for his outspokenness regarding the 2003 Azerbaijani protests and their aftermaths During his ambassadorship he criticized Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his crude violence towards protestors who were demanding fair elections and election transparency 2 He stated I saw harsh violence at the hands of the police I saw a bloodied man These people are not a threat Azerbaijan had the chance to show that it was a normal country with democratic principles 3 Following his criticism of the Aliyev government Gil was inundated with smear attacks from state media in Azerbaijan In 2004 the parliament pushed for a motion to declare him a persona non grata 4 He was declared the Ambassador of the Year for 2003 by the Human Rights House Foundation 5 In 2006 a year following the protests Gil left his position as ambassador to Azerbaijan and became the Lithuanian ambassador References edit Henriksen Petter ed 2007 Steinar Gil Store norske leksikon in Norwegian Oslo Kunnskapsforlaget Retrieved 2022 06 13 Associated Press 22 May 2005 Police arrest Azerbaijan protestors Austin American Statesman pp A9 Retrieved 14 Jun 2023 Mortished Carl 24 May 2005 Bloody battle mars opening of Caspian oilfield pipeline Calgary Herald pp E4 Norwegian Ambassador under attack Human Rights House Foundation 2004 07 16 Retrieved 2023 06 14 HRH nominates Human Rights Ambassador Human Rights House Foundation 2004 01 06 Retrieved 2023 06 14 nbsp nbsp This Norwegian diplomat related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Steinar Gil amp oldid 1193607071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
