Olav Myklebust, 55, was stripped of his security clearance and ambassadorial job after he fell in love with a Thai woman. Three and a half years later, he returned as ambassador.

In February of this year, Myklebust became was appointed to the Cabinet as the new ambassador of Norway to the United Arab Emirates. From the embassy in Abu Dhabi, he will be responsible for looking after Norway’s interests in the Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.

– Being able to work for Norway and our interests working with other countries is very motivating. I couldn’t imagine a more meaningful assignment and I’m very happy to have this opportunity, said Myklebust, who started work on Aug. 28.

Civil Licensing Authority (SKM) Civil Licensing Authority (SKM) The Civil Licensing Authority (SKM) is a directorate and administrative body under the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness. Among other things, SKM works with private control people in the civil sector who need security clearance or access permission.revoked all Myklebust security clearances in January 2020. He was also subject to a three-year quarantine period, with no possibility of applying for a new permit.

SKM believes that association with Thai women and rest homes in the country means there is reasonable doubt about its suitability for safety.

Myklebust is currently Norway’s ambassador to Poland. The loss of his license meant he had to resign as ambassador and return to work as a senior adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo.

After a two-year appeals process, Myklebust got his security clearance back in February last year, after the National Security Authority (NSM) appeals body overturned the SKM decision.

In May 2021, Myklebust sued the state for compensation for damages he claimed he had suffered in connection with having to leave the ambassador.

Myklebust won, and was awarded the above one million kroner in compensation. The state did not appeal the sentence.

– Great relief when I got my security clearance back and the Oslo District Court ruled that the Civil permit authorities taking it from me was wrong. After three years with it constantly on my mind, last summer I was finally able to drop my shoulders again and just look ahead.

Once the clearance process was complete, he proposed to girlfriend Chulee and they married in his hometown of Thailand last September.

– Now he has moved here and is taking Norwegian language courses, before we move to the Emirates at the end of August.

Press spokesperson Guri Solberg at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in an email that the embassy in Abu Dhabi is important from both a foreign policy perspective and for Norwegian business.

– Olav Myklebust got this job because he is a skilled and experienced diplomat. He has extensive experience from several overseas missions and extensive managerial experience.

Myklebust said he looked forward to working with a partner who was skilled and committed to promoting Norway’s interests in both the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.

– These countries have some of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world, and at the same time invest heavily in renewable energy. More than 100 Norwegian companies are founded in the Emirates alone and this clearly shows how important the country and the region is economically for Norway as well.

– An important task when I arrive will also be supporting Norway’s participation in the COP28 climate summit, which will be held in Dubai in November and December this year.

Myklebust said that in the case of permission he had received many encouraging messages from colleagues and others and always had strong support from managers at the Department of Foreign Affairs.