挪威首相约纳斯·加尔·斯特勒周三表示，挪威与国际和平研究所（IPI）的合作与已故被判性犯罪者杰弗里·爱泼斯坦无关，在议会听证会上为政府对该智库的资助进行了辩护，挪威广播公司（NRK）报道。
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Wednesday that Norway’s cooperation with the International Peace Institute (IPI) had no connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, defending government funding for the think tank during a parliamentary hearing, public broadcaster NRK reported.
在回答关于他2005年至2012年担任外交大臣期间的问题时，斯特勒表示，没有信息表明爱泼斯坦曾参与实施挪威的外交或发展政策。
Answering questions about his tenure as foreign minister from 2005 to 2012, Store said there was no information indicating that Epstein had participated in implementing Norwegian foreign or development policy.
他说：“没有信息表明爱泼斯坦曾与挪威外交或发展政策的实施有过接触或合作。”
“There has been no information that Epstein has been in contact with or a collaborator in the implementation of Norwegian foreign or development policy,” he said.
此次听证会是在今年早些时候美国司法部发布数百万份与爱泼斯坦相关的文件之后举行的，这引发了对挪威公共生活中相关人物的审查。
The hearing follows the release earlier this year of millions of Epstein-related documents by the US Justice Department, which prompted scrutiny of figures in Norwegian public life.
斯特勒表示，由挪威外交官特耶·罗德-拉森曾领导的国际和平研究所，为推进挪威在联合国的利益和接触决策者提供了有用的平台。
Store said IPI, formerly led by Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen, provided a useful platform for advancing Norwegian interests at the UN and reaching decision-makers.
他说：“总体而言，我们与国际和平研究所的合作经验是积极的，因此我们签署了新的协议。”他补充说，政治领导层认为这种合作“对挪威来说是一项良好的投资。”基督教民主党代表约纳斯·安德森·萨耶德质询年度资助为何从2006年的400万挪威克朗增加到2007年的1100万挪威克朗。斯特勒回答：“我们不拿自己与他人比较。”
“Overall, our experience with IPI was positive, and therefore we entered into new agreements,” he said, adding that the political leadership considered the cooperation “a good investment for Norway.”Christian Democratic Party representative Jonas Andersen Sayed questioned an increase in annual funding from 4 million to 11 million Norwegian kroner between 2006 and 2007. “We don’t measure ourselves against others,” Store replied.
斯特勒表示，公务员建议于2006年与国际和平研究所签订框架协议，并否认曾发布政治指令以确保资金拨付。他还表示，罗德-拉森的挪威国籍并未改变政府的资助决定。
Store said civil servants recommended entering into a framework agreement with IPI in 2006 and denied that political instructions had been issued to secure funding transfers. He also said Rod-Larsen’s Norwegian nationality had not changed the government’s funding decisions.
爱泼斯坦案 爱泼斯坦于2019年8月10日在纽约监狱牢房中被发现死亡，当时他正因性虐待和贩运未成年女孩的指控等待审判。
Epstein case Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls.
公布的案件文件点名了特朗普、克林顿和前安德鲁王子等知名人物，但被点名并不代表存在不法行为。
Released case files named prominent figures, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and former Prince Andrew, though being named does not establish wrongdoing.
联邦调查局和司法部的联合审查未发现“客户名单”的证据，并认定爱泼斯坦系自杀身亡。
A joint FBI and Justice Department review found no evidence of a “client list” and concluded that Epstein died by suicide.