Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, who was in office at the time of the banking collapse in October 2008, spoke unexpectedly during a Social Democrat caucus on Saturday, saying that she failed herself, her party and voters. Posts Tagged ‘Foreign Minister’
Former Foreign Minister Tells Party She Failed
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, who was in office at the time of the banking collapse in October 2008, spoke unexpectedly during a Social Democrat caucus on Saturday, saying that she failed herself, her party and voters. Foreign Minister Amazed at Predecessor’s Comments
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Minister for Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphédinsson says he is amazed at the comment by his predecessor and former chair of the Social Democratic Alliance, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, that she had not borne any responsibility for the banking collapse because those issues had not been her domain. Icelandic Foreign Minister Remembers Polish President
Sunday, April 11th, 2010
Foreign Minister of Iceland Össur Skarphédinsson remembers Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who died in a plane crash in Russia yesterday, with warmth. “This is extremely tragic and I am filled with compassion for the Polish nation for losing their leader this way.” No immediate Danish exit plan for Afghanistan
Saturday, April 10th, 2010
A government decision for Danish troops to remain in Afghanistan this year has been accepted by opposition parties on the condition that a more precise withdrawal plan is provided in 2011.
Although no dates have been agreed on, Politiken reports that parliamentary parties are moving closer to a agreeing on a course of action in Afghanistan.
The Social Liberal and Social Democrat parties have accepted the latest government amendment to the Helmand plan, which proposes a strategy for the removal of the 750 Danish troops predominantly stationed in the Helmand province of South Afghanistan.
Previously, the opposition had demanded an identifiable time frame for an Afghan exit-strategy, along with a guarantee that Danish troops would not be allowed to continue to fight unaided in Helmand.
Foreign Minister Lene Espersen’s recent visit to Kabul may have placated the opposition somewhat, as Espersen returned to Denmark with news of a successful meeting with Hamid Karzai. The Afghan president promised that 400-500 local soldiers would be dispatched to support Danish forces in the region, with a plan for Afghan troops to eventually take over from their Danish counterparts.
“But there is still a need for more Afghan soldiers out there and we must push hard for it, for it can result in Danes being replaced in their role as battle troops,” claimed Social Democrat minister Mogens Lykketoft.
Ex-Foreign Minister: Iceland Should Put Off EU Talks
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir said in an interview with the Financial Times in Germany that it is better to postpone accession talks with the European Union than to continue in uncertainty about where they’re headed. Norway joins US in calling for Canadian extension to Afghan mission
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Norway has joined the United States in criticizing the Canadian decision to withdraw its armed forces from Afghanistan next year.
The Norwegian foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Store, claimed that the arbitrary withdrawal dates proposed by the Canadian government does not accurately reflect the reality of the situation on the ground.
Mr Gahr Store said that Norway, a fellow NATO ally of Canada, sympathised with Canadian losses which have resulted in the withdrawal announcement, but that Norway had entered with NATO and will depart with NATO under agreement with Afghan authorities. As yet, there is no fixed date for the removal of Norwegian forces, reports inews.
Gahr Store’s comments followed a plea by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton for Canada to reconsider its decision during a televised interview. Clinton suggested that the Canadian role could become more focussed on training than combat.
Lawrence Cannon, the Canadian foreign affairs minister, bluntly rebuffed the request by Clinton for his country’s troops to remain in the war-torn region until the end of the year. He said, “Our military mission will end in 2011,” adding that the Canadian position has been made “perfectly clear” to its coalition partners. Cannon did acknowledge, however, that his government was investigating non-military roles in Afghanistan after its troop withdrawal.
Iceland Defence Agency to close doors?
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The Icelandic government yesterday decided to accept the Foreign Minister’s recommendation to close the Iceland Defence Agency.
The Iceland Defence Agency is a civilian organisation under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs which deals with Iceland’s security including operating radar stations and co-ordinating air defences. Iceland does not have a military and the Defence Agency was created in 2008 as a response to the final departure of US forces from Iceland in late 2006.
The operations of the Defence Agency would be split among other agencies including the coastguard.
The government will now draft a bill to be voted on in parliament.
Secret US Documents on Icelandic Politicians Leaked
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010Secret documents about Icelandic Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphédinsson and former Icelandic Ambassador to the US Albert Jónsson that were kept at the United States Department of State were recently leaked to WikiLeaks. Nordic Countries Disagree on Iceland Loan
Friday, March 12th, 2010
The foreign ministers of the Nordic countries met in Copenhagen yesterday where Foreign Minister of Iceland Össur Skarphédinsson explained the situation of the Icesave dispute with the UK and the Netherlands following the referendum on Saturday. Norway FM open to Iceland loan before Icesave solution
Friday, March 12th, 2010
Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, looks set to break ranks with the other Nordic countries by recommending that Norway grant loans to Iceland before the Icesave issue is finally resolved with the Netherlands and the UK.
Aftenposten reports that not only are the Norwegians potentially interested in granting Iceland the promised loan through the IMF right away, but that Store’s government may also be willing to offer another separate loan to Iceland in co-operation with the EU.
Store’s timing seems to be deliberate, with his comments coming just a day before today’s meeting of the Nordic finance ministers in Denmark. So far all the other Nordic nations have said their support for Iceland will not be paid out before Icesave is completely off the agenda. Icesave will be on the agenda in Copenhagen today.
“Norwegian assistance is tied to the IMF package and in our opinion the IMF package is not tied to a solution to the Icesave issue as the conditions of the package stand,” Store told Aftenposten.
Store emphasised that the Nordic nations should not do anything to hinder Iceland’s IMF package—his comments a direct response to a Nordic neighbour’s opinion that the Icesave issue must be out of the way before any loan can come from that country to Iceland through the IMF. Store said the issue will be discussed today.
Store added that there is no sign that the British and Dutch have tried to stall the IMF’s work in Iceland; and a week ago the Fund’s chief, Dominique Strauss Kahn told the press he is ready and willing to continue with the Iceland package without a final agreement in the Icesave issue.
Norway Considers Loan to Iceland Despite Icesave
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Stoere has loosened his demands towards Iceland and is considering the possibility of disbursing a loan to the Icelandic state through the International Monetary Fund without a solution to the Icesave dispute. Foreign Minister of Iceland Meets Westerwelle
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphédinsson met his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle in Berlin yesterday. They discussed Iceland’s application to the European Union, among other topics, and how the German parliament will handle it. Norway leads NATO nuclear disarmament initiative
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Norway, along with fellow NATO members Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, have joined together to call on the Western-based defence alliance to increase support for achieving a world that is nuclear-weapon-free.
“Our aim is to reduce the importance of nuclear weapons in NATO’s security policy,” said Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian Foreign Minister. The foreign ministers of the respective countries have jointly presented the NATO Secretary General with a letter that advocates comprehensive and robust discussions of the alliance’s nuclear policy at the next foreign minister meeting, scheduled for April in Tallinn.
“The views expressed in this joint letter correspond closely to those set out in the Norwegian Government’s disarmament strategy. I am pleased that Norway has such good partners to work with in our efforts to promote disarmament,” stated Mr Store.
Norway Post reports that the collaborative letter is regarded as an important step in the new Strategic Concept process by NATO. Norway has expressed its hope that a review of the concept will provoke a reduction in both the number and significance of nuclear weapons in NATO’s security policy.
“Disarmament and non-proliferation are important security policy tools for reducing the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to ensure a more peaceful and stable world,” said the Foreign Minister.
Conditions good for Icesave deal: Iceland minister
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010Icelanders are sure to vote against repaying $5 billion in "Icesave" debts if a referendum goes ahead on Saturday, but conditions are good for reaching a revised deal with Britain and the Netherlands, Iceland's Foreign Minister was quoted on Wednesday as saying.
Norwegian led cluster munitions ban a step closer
Friday, February 26th, 2010
Moldova and Burkina Faso have become the latest countries to submit their instruments of ratification for the Norwegian-led Convention on Cluster Munitions during a United Nations meeting last week. The announcements mean that the mandatory minimum of thirty countries has now been reached, which will allow the new Convention to be implemented in August.
“It’s finally clear that the ban will take effect. Through this convention we’ve contributed to making the world safer, we’ve strengthened international humanitarian law and those affected will now finally get help,” said Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs. “Norway will in accordance with the Convention destroy all its cluster munitions in the course of the next few months. We will also contribute over NOK 100 million (USD 17 million) a year for de-mining efforts and help to the victims of cluster munitions,” said the Foreign Minister.
To date, 104 states have supported the international cluster munitions ban since the Convention opened to signatories on the 3rd of December, 2008. Under the Convention, all storage, use, transfer and production of cluster munitions is outlawed. Countries signing the agreement are also obligated to eliminate any stockpiles and assist other nations affected by the issue in the removal of the deadly devices that still exist on the ground. The Convention also ensures that victims of cluster munitions have the proper avenues for seeking help according to Norway.org. Of those 104 countries, 30 have now ratified the ban.
Dubbed the Oslo Process, The Convention on Cluster Munitions is a Norwegian initiative that was negotiated in 2008 in Dublin under a unique collaboration between the member states, humanitarian groups, the International Red Cross and the United Nations.
EU calls for Iceland accession talks
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
(Icelandic government press release:) Iceland welcomes the opinion of the European Commission on Iceland’s application for EU membership, which recommends the opening of accession negotiations.
In the opinion, Iceland’s adherence to EU´s common values is acknowledged and Iceland is described as a deep-rooted democracy with a functioning free market economy based on the rule of law and the respect for human rights. The Commission acknowledges the efforts made by the government in stabilizing the economy in the wake of the global financial crisis and laying a sound foundation for sustainable economic recovery. The Commission also identifies areas that will be the subject of the upcoming accession talks.
“I appreciate the confidence in Iceland expressed by the EU Commission in this balanced, constructive and broadly speaking very positive report. It confirms that Iceland fulfills the Copenhagen criteria and is well prepared for accession talks due to its already deep integration with the European Union. It also points to many of the very issues this government is already taking action on, such as the strengthening of supervision of financial institutions,” said Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson.
Minister Skarphedinsson said that the Commission opinion is a significant step for Iceland on its road towards Europe. “My hope is that the EU Ministerial Council will, in the near future, decide to open accession talks with Iceland. My government will approach the coming negotiations in good faith and willingness to find common solutions that guarantee Iceland’s interests while respecting EU principles.”
The opinion of the EU Commission on Iceland can be found http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/key-documents/opinion-iceland_2010_en.htm
Iceland’s Foreign Minister Wants to Meet Clinton
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010Icelandic Foreign Minister Össur Skarphédinsson has requested a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to ask for assistance to loosen the grip the UK and the Netherlands have on the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Iceland FM wants to meet Hillary Clinton
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Ossur Skarphedinsson, Icelandic Foreign Minister, has formally requested a meeting with his American counterpart, Hillary Clinton.
The reason for the proposed meeting is to request American assistance in removing the blocks put in place by British and Dutch representatives to the IMF with regard to Iceland’s stabilisation loan package.
Information about the requested meeting came from Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir in a parliamentary response to a question from Illugi Gunnarsson of the Independence Party.
The IMF review of its Iceland programme has been delayed already and it is thought the delays are directly linked to Icesave.
A confidential memo was leaked to the public last week from the American embassy in Reykjavik. The memo contained details of communications between members of Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials at the embassy. The chief assistant to Foreign Minister Skarphedinsson is reported to have said that the USA cannot remain neutral by simply standing back and watching the British and Dutch bullying Iceland over Icesave, Visir.is reported.
Iceland waits to hear next Icesave step
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010Icelandic government representatives are already in London and ready to attend talks on the issue, RUV reports. However, it was also reported that the Dutch government did not make itself entirely clear in its communication intended as a courteous and constructive rejection of the Dutch and British Icesave counter offer.
Jan Kees de Jager is the new Dutch Finance Minister since he was appointed yesterday as part of The Netherlands’ temporary government. He told media he is not well enough informed about Icesave to make any formal comments yet.
De Jager took over the role of Finance Minister yesterday afternoon after it was decided to hold new elections in June and have a caretaker government in the meantime. Although he was previously Vice Finance Minister, de Jager told reporters he has not yet been personally involved in the Icesave issue.
Tags: Caretaker Government, Dutch Government, Elections, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, Formal Comments, Government Representatives, Holland, Iceland, Icesave, Jager, Kees, London, Netherlands, Rejection, Yesterday Afternoon
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