Lögberg-Heimskringla - 04.02.2000, Page 2

2 » Lögberg-Heimskringla « Millennium Edition » Friday 4 February 2000
Trade agreement to be concluded shortly
Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of
Canada
Ottawa, ON
| A N A D A ’ S
TIES tO
'Iceland go
back further than
with any other European neighbour.
While Canada has been touched by
Iceland in many ways, two important his-
torical events stand out.
The first was Leif Eiriksson’s visit to
L’Anse Aux Meadows on the northem tip
of Newfoundland one thousand years
ago. There, the Vikings established the
first European outpost in North America,
five hundred years before Columbus
crossed the Atlantic.
The second, and more lasting, event
was the establishment of the vibrant
Icelandic community 125 years ago on
the shores of Lake Winnipeg. I am proud
to have been able, as Prime Minister, to
play a small part in preserving this noble
history through funding for the Icelandic
Museum in Gimli.
Iceland and Canada have much in
common. As liberal and inclusive soci-
eties, we gained independence in a peace-
ful and democratic way. We both built
thriving communities in a harsh northern
climate. Today, our stable and peaceful
ways of life oífer a standard of living that
is the envy of many countries around the
world. When I visited Iceland in 1994, I
Many events celebrating the connection with Iceland will be taking place across Canada , such as the traditional “Walk to the
Rock’’ in Gimli, seen above. Phow: Jóm Einars. Gustafsson
witnessed, at first hand, its natural beauty
and the comfortable lifestyle created by
Icelanders in the north Atlantic.
We are both prosperous nations
which depend on trade. I am glad to say
that Canada and Iceland are actively
working to increase the trade links
between us. The process of negotiating a
trade agreement between Canada and the
European Free Trade Association
(EFTA), that I helped launch myself in
September 1997, will be concluded short-
ly. And so the new millennium will begin
with a free trade agreement that will ben-
efit the citizens of both Canada and
Iceland. Combined with scheduled flights
between Canada and Reykjavík, which
began in 1996, trade and cultural
exchanges between our two nations will
only increase.
Iceland is an important partner for
Canada on the international stage as well.
Our shared concern for human develop-
ment has brought about a high level of
cooperation in international organizations
around the world. We are also both com-
mitted to protecting the north through
organizations like the Arctic Council.
All in all, Canada and Iceland have a
great deal in common. During this mil-
lennium year, Canadians will have the
opportunity to learn more about our his-
torical, cultural, and religious ties with
Iceland at celebrations from
Newfoundland to British Columbia. As
we mark this special year, I want to give
my best wishes to Icelanders and
Canadians and oflfer my hopes of ever
closer ties in the future.
The largest community outside Iceland
Interview with
Davíð Oddsson
Prime Minister of
lceland
Reykjavík, Iceland
WHAT ARE
the most
impor-
tant aspects of
Iceland-Canada relations today?
Good relations between Iceland and
Canada are important in many respects,
since we are neighbours and allies in
NATO. The main issues in our relations
today involve free trade, fisheries, and the
environment. There is scope for even
greater trade between our countries, and
for stepping up air communications. The
Iceiandic government plans to open an
embassy in Canada in the near future
which will hopefully increase contact
between us still further.
Why is Iceland staging numerous
events in Canada in the year 2000?
The year 2000 marks the millennium
of the voyages when Icelandic explorers
became the first Europeans to set foot in
North America. It is also the 125th
anniversary of the arrival of Icelandic set-
tlers on the shores of Lake Winnipeg.
This year we will be establishing an
Icelandic presence for the third time, with
more than one hundred events all over
Canada.
Iceland and Canada share a cultural
heritage. Apart from Iceland itself, there
is no other country with more people of
Icelandic descent than Canada. In recent
years there has been a surge of interest in
the history of the Icelandic emigrants to
North America, partly as a result of new
books and films. People have been
impressed by the energy and determina-
tion that the settlers showed at that time.
What should be the lasting effect of
the millennium celebrations in terms of
the reiationship between Iceland and
Canada?
The most important effect will be to
make as many Canadians as possible well
informed about Iceland, its culture and
history, and interested in doing business
with us. It is also important for us in
Iceland to strengthen our links with the
descendants of the people who emigrated
from Iceland towards the end of the nine-
teenth century and settled in North
America. They have an Icelandic back-
ground and heritage that we would very
much like them to feel proud of.
Why has the Prime Minister been
instrumental in supporting the major
contribution—one million Canadian
dollars from Eimskip shipping compa-
ny and the Government of Iceland—to
the Icelandic Department at the
University of Manitoba?
Manitoba is the scene of an important
aspect of Icelandic culture. It is the para-
mount example of how an Icelandic cul-
tural community can evolve alongside
others. Manitoba is also home to the
largest community of people of Icelandic
descent outside Iceland itself. Thus the
decision to make a contribution to the
Icelandic department and library was an
integral part of Iceland’s own cultural
policy. The library contains many rare
books that our fellow Icelanders took
with them to Canada when they emigrat-
ed. Although they had little in the way of
worldly wealth and possessions, they had
a great treasure in the form of these books
in their native language. These pioneers
replanted Iceland’s literary heritage in
their new homes, and the University of
Manitoba library is a monument to that.
For more information, visit our website: www.iceiand2000.org