[MSN] Norway's justice minister formally confirmed Friday that he has no knowledge of any negotiations that led to the recovery of the famed Munch paintings "The Scream" and "Madonna."

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Minister denies Munch deal
Norway's justice minister formally confirmed Friday that he has no knowledge
of any negotiations that led to the recovery of the famed Munch paintings
"The Scream" and "Madonna."
Justice Minister Knut Storberget denies knowledge of any deals made to
recover two Munch masterpieces.

"I haven't been made aware of any negotiations between the police and
criminal circles in connection with the seizure of the Munch paintings,"
Justice Minister Knut Storberget wrote in a letter to officials of the
Progress Party.

They had sent him a letter 14 days ago, demanding an answer as to whether
any deals were made to recover the paintings, in order to secure shorter
prison terms for those linked to their theft. Storberget apologized that it
took him so long to reply.

Jan Arild Ellingsen of the Progress Party now hopes that all speculation
about any alleged deals will be put to rest.

"And if it emerges that there nonetheless were negotiations, it will be a
very serious matter for both the prosecutor and the justice minister,"
Ellingsen said. "It would be unthinkable that neither of them would have
been told if there were deals made."

Police continue to withhold any information about what led to the recovery
of the paintings, which were stolen in August 2004, nor will they reveal
where the paintings were found.

Aftenposten English Web Desk/NTB