Norway’s government apologises to Sami reindeer herders after protest

Although the talks did not yield an agreement to resolve the wind farm dispute, Mr Aasland said “that we are not ruling out any solutions at this time”

Silje Karine Muotka, right, met oil and energy minister Terje Aasland (Javad Parsa/NTB Scanpix/AP)

The Norwegian government apologised on Thursday to reindeer herders after activists spent a week protesting against a wind farm they say hinders the rights of the indigenous Sami people in central and Arctic Norway.

“I have apologised to the reindeer owners on behalf of the government,” oil and energy minister Terje Aasland said after meeting the speaker of the 39-seat Sami parliament, Silje Karine Muotka.