foreign minister
Most read
Latest
-
Pride Flags Raised Across Reykjavík
On Monday, the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, rainbow flags were raised outside of Höfði, city hall, and offices in Borgartún. The City of Reykjavík’s Human Rights Award was presented at Höfði on the same day. Remembering past protest Visír…
-
Iceland’s Foreign Minister Hedges Bets On US Elections, Hopes For “Good Cooperation”
As international attention is focused on the US elections—in particular, the race for the White House—Iceland’s Foreign Minister Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson has responded to reporter questions on the matter in unsurprisingly diplomatic fashion, Vísir reports. Guðlaugur was reluctant to offer any predictions…
-
Queer Activists Meet With President Over Russia
Yesterday, queer rights organisation Samtökin 78 met with Icelandic President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson to discuss how Icelandic authorities could pressure Russia into protecting the rights of homosexuals in the country. During the meeting, the group furthermore spoke about the importance of encouraging…
-
Foreign Minister Lashes Back At Conservative Critics
The Minister of Foreign Affairs says Independence Party critics of the trade ban against Russia show a conflict of interest. Since last summer, Iceland has been participating in the current trade ban against Russia, in which the EU is also involved. The…
-
Foreign Minister: Fighting Climate Change Will Be Expensive
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson says that fighting against a 2°C warming of the planet will be costly, but Iceland is committed. The Foreign Minister is currently attending the COP21 climate change talks in Paris this week, RÚV reports, where…
-
Foreign Minister: “Dangerous” Of Russia To Fly Over Turkey
Russia is creating considerable “danger” by flying over a NATO country with military aircraft, Iceland’s Foreign Minister says. Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson was a guest on radio station Rás 1, where he spoke about the current situation in Syria,…
-
Foreign Minister Defends Sanctions, Criticises Fishing Companies
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson has responded bluntly to critics of Iceland’s participation in the sanctions against Russia, and took a swipe at a former prime minister in the process. Kjarninn reports that Gunnar Bragi sat for an interview on…
-
Foreign Minister: Time To Tax Airline Tickets
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson believes one of the ways to confront growing tourism is to start levying taxes on airline tickets. In an interview with Skessuhorn, Gunnar Bragi said that while Icelanders have invested a great deal in the…
-
Foreign Minister Writes For Guardian About Iceland’s Gender Equality
Iceland’s Foreign Minister wrote a column for The Guardian arguing a number of points in Iceland’s favour about men’s role in gender equality. The piece is written in reference to the United Nations’ HeForShe campaign, in which Iceland’s participation garnered an award…
-
Academics In Two Camps Over Validity Of EU Bid Drop
Law and Political Science academics are in two camps over the ruling coalition’s actions and the validity of the Foreign Minister’s letter to the EU, announcing the end of accession talks. Iceland’s Foreign Minister, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, insisted in the news this…
-
Foreign Minister Drops Iceland EU Bid, Doesn’t Run It Past Parliament First
Iceland’s Foreign Minister, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, has notified the EU that Iceland will no longer be pursuing EU accession talks, but did so without running it past parliament first, reports RÚV. “The Icelandic Government wishes to clarify further its intentions. The Government of Iceland…
-
The Reykjavík—Versailles Enigma
On Wednesday, the Progressive Party’s Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi “Barbershop” Sveinsson met with France’ socialist Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius. According to the Icelandic Foreign Ministry’s press release, the two discussed relations between the countries in the fields of culture, business, tourism, developments…
-
Foreign Minister Sends Condolences To MH17 Families
Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, who was visiting Ukraine yesterday to discuss the ongoing conflict and possible energy cooperation, has sent his condolences to the families of passengers on MH17. Yesterday, a Malaysian airliner carrying 295 people crashed in east Ukraine on…
-
EFTA Put Talks With Russia On Ice
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) decided to put their free trade talks with Russia on hold at the annual summer meeting in the Westman Islands yesterday, due to Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine. RÚV reports that Iceland’s Foreign Minister, Gunnar Bragi…