Lögberg-Heimskringla - 14.04.2000, Qupperneq 3

Prirne Ministers Oddsson and Chretien, joined by
Albert Jonsson Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on
International Affairs, Ambassador Svavar Gestsson,
Consul General, and Ambassador Jon Baldvin
Hannibalsson, met to discuss more serious matters per-
taining to Iceland-Canada relations. Topics of discussion
included increasing the number of direct flights
between Iceland and Canada, Canada's plans for
entering into a free trade agreement with EFTA,
and potential for a Canadian embassy in Iceland. Prime
Minister Chretien pledged - said Prime Minister Daví>
Oddsson - to look closely into the matter of a Canadian
embassy in Iceland - to reciprocate Iceland's diplomatic
initiatives toward Canada.
LLOYD AXWORTHY AND
HERB GRAY
Oddsson, Charles Furey Minister of Tourism and Culture in
Newfoundland and Sigurdur Helgason.
Oddsson and Chretien.
THE CANADIAN EMBASSY
IN ICELAND
Gerald Einarsson presents Prime Minister
Oddsson and his wife Astridur Thorarensen with
a document recognising the Minister’s initiative
in the Iceland-Canada relations.
Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy and
David Oddsson had lots to talk about
in the reception at Chateau Laurier.
Prime Minister Oddsson, John Harvard MP
who served as an MC at the opening ceremony,
and Svavar Gestsson.
Astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason enjoyed the "salt-
fiskur" served by master chef Hilmar B.Jonsson and
Magnus Bjarnason trade representative oflceland in
New York.
The opening celebrations continued into the evening with
a reception and a dinner hosted by Prime Minister
Oddsson at Ottawa's Hotel Chateau Laurier. Consul
General Svavar Gestsson acted as MC for the reception.
Guests enjoyed another performance by Icelandic sopra-
no soloist Diddu, who sang three special Icelandic
melodies among other selections. Ottawa's 'Friends
of Iceland' association, represented by Gerry
Einarsson, presented Prime Minister Oddsson with
a special document of honour to thank the minister
for his initiative in the celebrations. They also gave
to the Prime Minister a special CD of Magnus
Eliasson reciting lcelandic Canadian poetry, includ-
ing the classic 'Sandy Bar'. Don Gislason of the
Toronto ICCT presented Oddsson with a copy of his
book detailing the remarkable history of the
Icelandic settlement at Kinmount, Ontario - the pre-
cursor to the permanent Manitoba settlement.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd
Axworthy was Oddson's guest of honour for the
reception. The honoured guests at the dinner
included Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray and
Newfoundland's Minister of Tourism, Culture and
Recreation Charles Furey.
Logi Bergman Eidsson anchormait from Icelandic
National Broadcasting, Senator Janis Johnson
and astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason.
Atli Asmundsson from the Foreign Minister of
Iceland and a member of the Leifur Eiriksson
commission, Svavar Gestsson, Ambassador Jon
Baldvin Hannibalsson and Skarphedinn
Steinarsson from the PM's office in Iceland were
shown around Parliament Hill.