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Grameenphone, Prof. Muhammad Yunus and TelenorSummary of articles in Dagbladet, 14-25, March 2006
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Wednesday 14, March, 2007 Peace price winner Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka telles Dagbladet that Telenor should honour their commitments made to him ten years ago, by T ormod 1 - lermansen. "We are not looking for charity or donations. We only want Telenor to keep their promise", says Yunus, who has got a copy of the agreement from 1996 that states Telenors intention to reduce it's ownership in Grammenphone to below 35 per cent within six years. "We had a clear understanding, both parties signed", says Yunus. In December 2006, Telenor CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas denied that this agreement existed. It was not until Dagbladet revealed the text of the agreement Telenor admitted they had mad promises to Yunus. Today they claim the agreement is not legally binding, and was meant to secure Telenor's position, not that of Grameen Telecom. Yunus talkes about his good personal relationship with former Telenor CEO, Tormod Hermansen. "Tormod had a genuine interest in helping a third world country, he was a very generous person" says Yunus. "Today, Telenor has changed it's world view. Suddenly the shareholders are the deciders of everything. But Telenor's management is not reflecting the true view of their shareholders, I am confident of that, says Yunus.
The peace price winner's claim for the majority of shares in Grameenphone, has caused a political headache for the Norwegian government. The foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Store refused to support Yunus' claim in public. This was a disappointment to the Nobel laureate. "He could have picked up the phone and given Telenor a call, to tell them: I have protected you in the stock marked. Now you need to protect my conscience" says Yunus. Yunus insists that Gtameenphone will be run as a profit maximizing company, with the shares owned by the poor women of Bangladesh . "They are as eager as Telenor to make money and be paid dividends", says Yunus. "If we are allowed to be the majority owner does not mean the company will be thorn apart. We still want Telenor to remain in the management of the company, we know that they are important to us. But our social beliefs make us wish that this company could be owned by the poor women of Bangladesh , says Yunus. The professor has a new offer to Telenor: "Sell us 51 per cent of the shares. We own the company, you run the show. Then our job is done", says Yunus. Telenors CEO, Jon Fredrik Baksaas, refuses to talk to Dagbladet. However, head of Telenor's activities in Asia , and chairman of Grameenphone, Arve Johansen, made this statement: "We honour our agreements, but we do not have any agreement with Yunus. We made it very clear, already in 2001, that we did not have the intention of selling our shares any longer" says Johansen. Thursday 15, March, 2006I have a big heart for Yunus
Interview with the Norwegian minister for international development, Erik Solheim. Solheitn tells Dagbladet that the fight against poverty is more important to the government than the interests of Telenor. Solheim defend the position that the Norwegian government does not instruct Telenor of what to do in the conflict. "It is for the management of Telenor and Yunus to reach an agreement" says Solheim. "However, I will raise this issue in my talks with Yunus when he is coming to Norway in two weeks, says Solheim Norway breaks it's promise Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus want's the Norwegian government to clarify it's position in the Grameenphone conflict. "I understand that the government can not formally instruct Telenor, but I would like for them to state their views on the issue" says Yunus. "Telenor is owned by the Norwegian state, so when Telenor are not keeping their promise, it's also Norway that is breaking a promise", says Yunus. He is frustrated that Norwegian development aid on one hand is given to Bangladesh , while on the other hand Telenor refuses to honor their agreement. "This is an incoherent policy" says Yunus. Friday 16, March, 2006
Here are the telephone ladies who want's to buy Grameenphone, and their stories. Dagbladet visits a village in rural Bangladesh , to meet the women Muhammad Yunus want's to be he majority shareholders in Grameneenphone. Telenor CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas still refuses to talk to Dagbladet. What to you do with all that money?
A profile of peace price winner Muhammad Yunus and Telenor CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas. The two rivals in the Grameenphone conflict live very different lives.While Baksaas is one of the richest men in Norway , Muhammad Yunus donated his price money for social businesses and to open an eye hospital in Bangladesh . Page 20: Senterpartiet backs Yunus The political party Senterpartiet, a member of the ruling coalition in Norway , passes a resolution, saying the issue of Grameenphone must be discussed in the cabinet. This is an important step forward for peace price winner Muhammad Yunus' campaign to take control over the company. Also: Dagbladet visits one of Grameenphones Community Information Centers in Bangladesh Telenor and Yunus in logo-war
MP Per Olaf Lundteigen want's Norad to give loan and guarantees to Grameen Telecom so they can buy the shares in Grameenphone. Solheim want's to mediate
The minister for international development, Erik Solheim, offers to be a mediator between Telenor and Muhammad Yunus. "We are not interested. This is a business conflict", a Telenor spokesman says to Dagbladet. Ethics Professor : Sell to Yunus
Professor Alexander Cappelen, head of the Norwegian School of Business (Where Telenor CEO Bansaas got his degree) ethics centre, advises Telenor to sell the shares in Grameenphone to Muhammad Yunus. "Yunus has got a moral claim against Telenor", says Cappenlen. Secretary General of Transparency International Norway, Jan Borgen, saus Telenor CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas should come forward and participate in the public debate about Grameenphone. Here are the winners in the Grameenphone story
A news feature on how Bangladesh has benefited from the Grameenphone success. Telenor should make peace
Saturday 24. March, 2006
Sunday 25. March, 2006
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Former Telenor CEO, Tormod Hermansen says it's in Telenor's interest to find a solution to the Grameenphone conflict with peace price winner Muhammad Yunus. "Both partics should be willing to lean forward" says Hermansen. 
Bakaas and Yunus to meet. Following Dagbladet's series of articles on Grameenphone, Telenor has agreed to meet Muhammad Yunus when he is in Norway next week. However, Telenor refuses to tell Dagbladet if there will be real talks on the ownership structure of Grameenphone, or just another photo opportunity for Telenor.
NGOs back Yunus. The secretaries general of three of Norways most influential organization, The Norwegian church aid, The Stromme foundation and Norwegian People's Aid say to Dagbladet they think Telenor should sell the shares in Grameenphone to peace price winner Muhammad Yunus. "The way Telenor has treated Yunus in an embarrassment for Norway", says Atle Sommerfeldt from the Church aid.