News

Assessment and government policy for 2004-2007

<p>Report has been written which discusses an assessment of how Icelandic government policy on the information society has been implemented. Entitled Resources to Serve Everyone, this policy spans the period of 2004 to 2007.</p>

Preparation of new policy on the information society

<p>The Icelandic government has decided to formulate a new policy on the information society for the period of 2008 to 2012, a policy that will reflect the current points of government emphasis and be founded, among other things, on the government's general policy declaration and the focal political points of the coalition parties.</p>

The Telecommunications Fund

<p>This Fund was established by Act No. 132/2005, on the Telecommunications Fund. The Fund's purpose is to allocate financial resources for projects that are aimed at developing the telecommunications infrastructure.</p>

Recognizing the achievements, addressing the challenges and getting back on track to achieve the MDGs by 2015

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations. </p>

Treasury finances January-February 2008

Figures for Treasury finances in the first two months of 2008 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 96 billion, increasing by 8 billion or 9.4% <br>

Minister Gísladóttir strengthens Iceland&#39;s development cooperation with Caribbean partners

A High-Level Roundtable on international cooperation for sustainable development in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was held in Bridgetown, Barbados on 25-27 March 2008. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, led an Icelandic Delegation of Ministry officials, development professionals and business interests.

Debt statistics, May 2008

Central government debt, claims and cash at hand 1994-2008, May 2008.

The Global Road Safety Crises

Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations.

Address of Prime Minister Geir.H. Haarde to the Annual Meeting of the Central Bank of Iceland March 28th 2008

In Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde´s address to the Annual Meeting of the Central Bank of Iceland today he stated the following:

The situation in Afghanistan

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations. </p>

Free and Open-source Software - Government Policy of Iceland

<p>The government of Iceland has agreed on a policy regarding free and open-source software.</p>

Welfare for the future, Priorities 2006-2009

<p>This report is the first update of the Icelandic Governments 2002 strategy for sustainable development, which bears the title Welfare for the Future.…

Minister for Foreign Affairs discusses women, peace and security at women leaders working group

Women&#39;s access to peace and security processes was the main topic of discussion today at a women leaders&#39; conference attended by&nbsp;Mrs. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Treasury finances January 2008

Figures for Treasury finances for January 2008 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 56.6 billion, increasing by 4.8 billion or 9.3%.

The Government of Iceland formally recognizes Kosovo

The Government of Iceland has formally recognized Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state.

Nordic-Africa Foreign Ministers meetings in Gaborone, Botswana

Mrs. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated in the annual Nordic-Africa Foreign Ministers meeting that ended today in Gaborone, Botswana.

Iceland to recognize Kosovo's independence

Following Kosovo's declaration of independence on 17 February 2008, the Government of Iceland has decided to recognize it as a sovereign and independent state, though the timing has still to be decided.

Minister for Foreign Affairs meets with UN Secretary General

Kosovo&#39;s declaration of independence and women&#39;s participation in peace processes were among the issues discussed at a meeting of Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, and Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, at UN headquarters in New York earlier this week, 26 February 2008.

Iceland one of 24 United Nations Member States without a standing military

Two members of this group, Panama and Costa Rica, are currently sitting members on the United Nations Security Council.

Investing in women

Statement by Mrs. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the 52nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

The Statement of the Government, February 17th 2008

Economic stability is the main goal of the Government, since it promotes economic growth and welfare in the long run. Under the present circumstances, it is of utmost importance that conditions be created for a lower level of interest rates.

Children and Armed Conflict

Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations, on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Climate Change

Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations.

Address by Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde to the Annual Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, March 13th 2008

Address by Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde to the Annual Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of

Changed Security Environment - New Perspectives in Defence

Speech given by H.E. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister of Foreign Affairs Defence, November 27, 2007. Association for Western Co-operation, Reykjavik, Iceland

System-wide Coherence

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations, on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland.</p> <p></p>

Treasury finances January-December 2007

Figures for Treasury finances for January-December 2007 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 453 billion, increasing by 71 billion or 18.7%

Principal tax rates 2008

This paper describes the principal tax rates applicable to individuals and companies as they stand at the beginning of 2008.

Iceland and the European single market

Address to the Parliament by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade

Chronicle of economic events 2008

Treasury finances January-November 2007

Figures for Treasury finances in the first eleven months of 2007 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 388 billion, increasing by 50 billion or 14.8% <br>

New Years´s Address 2007

<p>New Year's Address by the Prime Minister of Iceland, Geir H. Haarde - Broadcast on State TV, December 31, 2007.</p>

The Nordic countries regret the decision by the Government of Sri Lanka to withdraw from the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement

The Government of Sri Lanka has formally notified Norway of its decision of 2 January to terminate the Ceasefire Agreement with effect from 16 January 2008.

Changes at Statistics Iceland at the turn of the year

On 1 January 2008 the ministerial status of Statistics Iceland will be abolished and a new Act on Statistics Iceland and official statistics will take effect.

The Security Council

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations, on behalf of the Nordic Countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.</p>

Women and Men in Iceland 2007

Statistics of women and men in Iceland in 2007

High Level Conference on the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative<strong> </strong>of Iceland to the United Nations.</p>

A World fit for Children

Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations.

Ocean and the Law of the Sea

Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations.

The statement of the Government regarding measures to improve the incomes of older and disabled persons

In the Government´s Policy Statement, emphasis was placed on strengthening the incomes of older and disabled persons by reducing the income-related benefit thresholds in the social security system.

The Situation in the Middle East

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative<strong> </strong>of Iceland to the United Nations.</p>

Treasury finances January-October 2007

Figures for Treasury finances in the first ten months of 2007 are now available. Total Treasury revenue amounted to 354 billion, increasing by 46 billion or 14.8% <br>

Civilians in Armed Conflict

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative<strong> </strong>of Iceland to the United Nations.</p> <p></p>

Nordic Declaration on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education - Report to the Nordic Council of Ministers

Parliamentary Resolution on an action plan to improve the situation of children and young persons has been translated into English

<p>The Alþingi approved of the action plan in June 2007 in accordance with a recommendation put forward by the Minister of Social Affairs. The translation will be useful in international co-operation and plays a role in the Ministry?s effort to provide basic information about Icelandic society in foreign languages for residents that do not understand Icelandic.</p>

Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative<strong> </strong>of Iceland to the United Nations.</p>

Security Council reform

Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations.

Legal Status of the Arctic Ocean

Opening address by Mrs. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Symposium of the Law of the Sea Institute of Iceland on the Legal Status of the Arctic Ocean, 9 November 2007.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

<p align=justify>Statement by Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Permanent Representative<strong> </strong>of Iceland to the United Nations.</p>

Address on Foreign Affairs by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Delivered at the Althing at its 135th legislative session, 2007 - 2008.