Norway's King Harald V visits Krakow on last day of state visit

banquest laid on for King Harald (right) in Warsaw: photo - PAP/Jacek Turczyk

King Harald V and Queen Sonja, who arrived in Poland on Wednesday, will take part in a meeting with Norwegian students at the Medical School for International Students at the Jagiellonian University's Faculty of Medicine.

Afterwards, royal couple will visit University of Krakow museums and cultural institutions that have received Norwegian funding.

On Thursday, President Bronislaw Komorowski and First Lady Anna laid on a special banquet by the royal couple at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw, where roast saddle of reindeer mousse was served, followed by baked salmon and roasted monkfish. A concert of Polish and Norwegian music rounded off the evening.

In the morning, King Harald V attended a forum on the “Polish and Norwegian partnership”, which was also attended by ministers from both nation's governments.

The forum at the Intercontinental Hotel in Warsaw concentrated on economic ties between Poland and Norway, cooperation within NATO and the financial assistance that Poland receives through financial mechanisms of the European Economic Area, of which Norway is a member.

"Measurable results of projects financed by these mechanisms make a significant contribution in many areas to the development of Poland,” President Komorowski said.

Poland is the largest recipient of Norwegian grants, with 570 million euros aallocated for various projects to reduce social and economic inequality and strengthening bilateral relations in the period from 2009 till 2014.

Harald V emphasized that Poland is an important market for Norwegian seafood.

He also said he see alot of room for further development in the energy sector, notably oil and gas, with Poland. (pg)