The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) representative to Iceland, Mark Flanagan, told reporters that his words were taken out of context by a local newspaper, who quoted him as saying that if he were an Icelander, he would move out of the country.
According to journalist Heiða B. Heiðarsdóttir, writing for dv.is, she asked Flanagan if he would move out of the country if he were an Icelander. She writes that he said he would, if he found work in another country.
But Flanagan told Vísir that these words were taken entirely out of context, that what he in fact said was that he could understand that some Icelanders would leave the country due to the economic situation, but added that Icelanders have every reason to see a bright future for their country; that the country is coming out of the crisis and the IMF intends to help in that regard.