News

Cooperation in the High North on the agenda during Defence Minister Gade's visit

Absentee voting for Parliamentary elections begins

Absentee voting for the 25 April Parliamentary elections in Iceland will begin on Monday, 16 March 2009.

Statement by the IMF Mission to Iceland

<p>A mission from the International Monetary Fund , headed by Mark Flanagan, visited Reykjavik February 26-March 13 to conduct discussions for the first review under the US$2.1 billion Stand-By Arrangement, approved on November 19, 2008. The mission had productive meetings with senior government officials, as well as representatives of the private sector and labor organizations.</p>

IMF concludes its visit

During the past two weeks an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has been working with Icelandic authorities on the first review of the economic recovery programme and IMF Stand-by Arrangement for Iceland.

Government Policy for Ecological Procurement: The State as an informed and ecologically minded buyer

Appointment of Hawkpoint to lead negotiations with banking creditors

The Government of Iceland has taken steps to strengthen and streamline the process of negotiations between the three new banks created in the wake of the collapse of the main Icelandic commercial banks (Glitnir, Kaupthing and Landsbanki) and the creditors of the old banks.

A Risk Assessment for Iceland

Professor Valur Ingimundarson, Chairman of the interdisciplinary Commission for a Risk Assessment for Iceland, today delivered the Commission&#39;s report to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Össur Skarphéðinsson.

Government of Iceland Agrees to Establish AMC to Take Over Severely Affected Companies

<p>The government of Iceland has approved a bill from the Minister of Finance to establish, as a limited liability company owned by the state, an Asset Management Company (AMC) to promote the restructuring of commercial undertakings of national significance.</p>

Government reinforces the office of Special Prosecutor

The governing coalition of the Social Democratic Alliance and Left-Green Movement intends to submit a bill to the Althingi greatly extending the authorisation of the Special Prosecutor to gather and demand information and data for the investigation of individual issues linked to the country&#39;s economic collapse.

Treasury finances January 2009

Figures for Treasury finances in the first month of 2009 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 55 billion, decreasing by 2 billion or -3.6%

Foreign Consultants Engaged to Represent State Interests

At a meeting held on 3 February, the Government of Iceland approved a proposal from the Prime Minister to conclude a contract with the international corporate advisory firm Hawkpoint to work under the supervision of Icelandic authorities on reaching a settlement between the old and new banks.

Prime Minister appoints Dr Anne Sibert and Dr Gylfi Zoega members of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Iceland

The Prime Minister has today appointed two expert members to the Monetary Policy Committee, as provided for in provisions of Act No. 36/2001, on the Central Bank of Iceland, as subsequently amended.

Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland appointed

<p>As provided for in Temporary Provision II of the Act Amending the Act on the Central Bank of Iceland, the Prime Minister today appointed Svein Harald Øygard provisionally to the position of Governor of the Central Bank and Arnór Sighvatsson provisionally as Deputy Governor. They have already commenced their duties.</p>

Central Bank Bill Becomes Law

The government&#39;s bill amending the Central Bank Act has been passed by the Icelandic parliament Althingi. Major changes are made to the Central Bank?s administrative structure, its Governors reduced in number and a Monetary Policy Committee established.

Treasury finances January-December 2008

Figures for Treasury finances in the twelve months of 2008 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 445 billion, decreasing by 9 billion or -2.1% <br>

Seminar on Security Prospects in the High North, Reykjavík 29 January 2009

NATO and the Government of Iceland organized the seminar to discuss the challenges in the High North. The participants agreed that the confrontation of the Cold War belongs to the past and nations now face a completely new security environment.

Iceland's Third Periodic Report on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, June 2008

Foreign Ministers of Iceland and Albania meet

Iceland&#39;s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Össur Skarphedinsson, met with the Foreign Minister of Albania, Lulzim Basha, on February 12 during his visit to Iceland to discuss NATO&rsquo;s enlargement process as well as energy issues.

Iceland invites the OSCE to observe elections

<p>The Icelandic delegation to OSCE, in Vienna, has invited the organization to observe the early, parliamentary elections, planned for this spring.</p>

Icelandic Foreign Minister interviewed by David Frost

Össur Skarphéðinsson, the Icelandic Foreign Minister, talked about the Icelandic economy, European issues and fisheries with David Frost on the television station Al Jazeera.

Coordination Committee publishes its first report

The Coordination Committee which has the overall responsibility of developing, implementing and communicating a comprehensive strategy for bank restructuring published its first report today at a press seminar.

Stoltenberg Report presented to Nordic Foreign Ministers

Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs today received, on behalf of his Nordic colleagues, a report by Thorvald Stoltenberg, former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence of Norway

A turning point in work by public authorities on rebuilding the financial system

A cabinet meeting this morning dealt with questions concerning the reconstruction of the financial system and endorsed a work programme for the Co-ordination Committee appointed to work on this task pursuant to the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

New Bill Introduced Altering the Administrative Structure of the Central Bank of Iceland

Today, 6 February, Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir introduced a bill of legislation in the Icelandic parliament Althingi amending the Act on the Central Bank of Iceland.

Government of Iceland contributes 150 million ISK to UNICEF

<p>Children are often those that are the most disadvantaged. It is very important to continue to address the acute problems that children are confronted with, even if so many countries are now struggling with the consequence of the global financial crisis.</p> <br> <br>

Newsletter from Washington D.C.

<p>Mr. Hjálmar W. Hannesson is the new Ambassador of Iceland to the United States. Mr. Hannesson presented his credentials to President George W. Bush on January 8, 2009.</p> <br> <br>

Newsletter from London

New Minister for Foreign Affairs

<p>A new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ossur Skarphedinsson, took office yesterday, replacing Mrs. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir,</p> <p></p>

Political advisor to the Minister

Kristján Guy Burgess has been appointed political advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs

Newsletter from Berlin

New Icelandic Government formed

A Government of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement takes office today.

The Treasury&#39;s asset and liability statement

The Treasury&rsquo;s debt position has been under intense discussion in recent days as well as the changes that have taken place since the collapse of the banks in October 2008.

Security Prospects in the High North

<p>Important changes are under way in the High North which will have a broad impact on international affairs. The Government of Iceland is organising, jointly with NATO, a seminar in Reykjavík on 29 January 2009 to discuss current and future strategic implications of the developments in the High North.</p>

Iceland's coalition government resigns

<p>Iceland's Prime Minister, Geir H. Haarde, announced today the resignation of the coalition government of the Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance.</p>

Prime Minister Formally Tenders Government&#39;s Resignation

The coalition government of the right-wing Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance has come to an end. The Prime Minister met with the President of Iceland at 4 pm today to formally deliver his government?s resignation.

Iceland's Foreign Minister returns

<p>Doctors in Stockholm confirmed this morning that the minister's brain tumour is benign.</p>

Statement from Geir H. Haarde, Prime Minister of Iceland and Chairman of the Independence party

A regular medical examination which I underwent at the National and University Hospital last week revealed a small tumour of the oesophagus. On Tuesday I was informed that a biopsy had indicated that the tumour was malignant.

Minister's absence extended

The medical treatment of Iceland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, in Stockholm has been extended

U.S. and Iceland sign a Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement

The Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Christopher S. Wilson, and the acting Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Össur Skarphéðinsson, today signed in Reykjavik a U.S.-Iceland Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement.

Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians

Lovells UK Legal Office Advice to the Government of Iceland

The UK legal office of Lovells LLP has provided advice to the Government of Iceland on possible legal action against the UK aimed at overturning the Landsbanki Freezing Order.

Treasury finances January-November 2008

Figures for Treasury finances in the first eleven months of 2008 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 393 billion, increasing by 3 billion or 0.9% <br>

The situation in Gaza is unacceptable- Statement before the Security Council of the UN

Statement Concerning Legal Proceedings Against UK Authorities

The government of Iceland has decided to examine any and all possibilities of Iceland seeking redress before the European Court of Human Rights for the application by UK authorities of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 against Landsbanki last year.

Statement from the Icelandic Government Concerning Legal Proceedings Against UK Authorities

The Government of Iceland has decided to examine any and all possibilities of Iceland seeking redress before the European Court of Human Rights for the application by UK authorities of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 against Landsbanki last year.

Government Support for Legal Action against UK Authorities

Today the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have met with representatives of Kaupthing Bank?s Resolution Committee. The Ministers had previously met with Landsbanki?s Resolution Committee.

Minister's absence due to treatment

Iceland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, will undergo radiation therapy at the Karolinska hospital in Stockholm next week.

Iceland&#39;s Foreign Minister supports IWC appeal of an immediate stop to military action in Gaza

Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, and honorary member of the International Women&#39;s Commission (IWC) for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace, encourages attention to the situation in Gaza.

Nordic Road Map

<p>Programme for the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2009.</p>

At year's end

Address by Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde, Chairman of the Independence Party