Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir thanked the Faroese today for loaning Iceland some 300 million Danish crowns (about 40 million euros) shortly after the banks collapsed in the fall of 2008.
“The non-partisan solidarity of the Faroese on that loan,” she said, “given to us without any conditions, at a time when everybody else had turned their backs on us, shows their heart better than any words. They are friends indeed.”
According to Vísir, she expressed these words of gratitude during a luncheon with Faroese legislator Kaj Leo Johannesen, who is visiting Iceland on official business. Johannesen, for his part, said that the Faroese are following Icelandic politics very closely; especially with regards to the European Union, adding, “The result of the membership process could have a significant impact on the political discourse in the Faroe Islands.”
The Faroese were the only nation to lend Iceland money after the bank collapse without any conditions.