Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.01.2019, Page 3

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Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Iceland, met with Mike Pompeo, United States
Secretary of State, in Washington, DC, on January 7.
Security and defence, trade and Arctic issues featured high on
the agenda.
This was the first bilateral meeting between the two
ministers since Secretary Pompeo took office last summer.
After the meeting, the ministers issued a joint statement,
in which they expressed interest in exploring possibilities
for improved conditions for bilateral trade and investment
as well as enhanced cooperation and consultations in the
fields of security and defence, and in the Arctic. “The
changing strategic environment in the North Atlantic and
the Arctic reinforces the importance of the longstanding
security relationship between the United States and Iceland,”
noted the joint statement. “Accordingly, we will enhance
our consultations and cooperation within NATO and in
maintaining the bilateral Defense Agreement. … Iceland will
shortly assume the chairmanship of the Arctic Council and
will work closely with the United States and other member
states in furthering cooperation in the region.”
Following the meeting, Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson said,
“Iceland and the United States have a longstanding and solid
relationship, with regard to both security and defence as well
as trade. The U.S. is our single biggest trading partner and U.S.
tourists are the largest single nationality that visits Iceland.
Moreover, we have many mutual interests in the High North.
This meeting with Secretary Pompeo indicated clearly the will
of the U.S. government to strengthen the relationship between
the two countries even further.”
From the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland
Iceland’s foreign minister meets U.S. secretary of state
PHOTO: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson and Michael Pompeo
In his New Year’s message to the people of Iceland,
President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson struck a balance
between hopefulness for the future and the honest
acknowledgment of the challenges and difficulties
faced by many. “Let us give thought to those who have
encountered adversity during the past year, those who
are dealing with grief and loss, those who are in need of
our support and sympathy,” he said.
Noting that Icelanders had just celebrated the
centenary of the country becoming a free and sovereign
nation, he spoke of the positive changes that had come
during the past century. Improvements in health care,
the virtual elimination of infant mortality, medical
and pharmacological advances led his list. He noted
the increased opportunities for Icelanders “to study, to
travel, to work and devote themselves to what interests
them; to love, believe and express themselves in every
way; to be in charge of their own destiny, in a society
of freedom, equality, diversity, and kindness.”
“As we rejoice over these and other aspects of our
progress over the past century, we must not forget what
has gone wrong. Poverty and inequality have long
existed here, and still do so today; myths that maintain
the contrary must be resisted.” He went on to remind
everyone, “some people were left behind. People with
physical and mental disabilities were marginalized,
instead of receiving the special care they needed.” He
also pointed to suicide among young males and the
problems of addiction. “We cannot simply let them
fall – our young people who deserve help and hope.”
While noting that “the internet and its media play
an ever-growing role in our society” and enhance
people’s “freedom to express themselves,” he warned
that, “these merits are, sadly, not always applied for
the good.” Social media contributes to making life
more complicated today than it was in the past and,
despite its merits, it can lead to unhappiness through
glamourized images and constant comparisons. “What
can be more fickle than a Facebook like?”
The president acknowledged many other challenges
that give rise to fear among people: “environmental
degradation and climate change; destitution and
conflict,” as well as “the threat of terrorism and growing
support for extremism” and “inequity in division of the
world’s resources.”
At the same time, he reminded his citizens that
“living conditions have improved greatly in this
country” and “mankind as a whole is doing better
than ever before – although nothing can be taken for
granted” while suggesting “the future is in our hands ‒
and it is a promising one, if we do not depart from the
path of humanity, common sense, science and reason.”
In response, he encouraged Icelanders to remain
“united in times of peril” while observing that they
have risen to the challenge in the past. “In times of
calamity,” Guðni said, “we Icelanders have a single
soul. But otherwise we go on arguing and bickering.
Improvements in society never happen of their own
accord. They have to be worked for: it is necessary
to win support, to promote the issue and persuade the
people of the country and the authorities that change
is required. In a strong democratic society, people
should always pursue such activities. But we must
acknowledge and accept that there will always be
disagreement over how to achieve our goals. Such
differences of opinion should not be a source of
concern. On the contrary – so long as the debate takes
place in terms of reason and justice, and arguments
are made and defended resolutely but at the same time
with fairness, respect and courtesy.”
In closing, the president said, “I am far from
wishing to tell other people how to live their lives. At
the start of a new year, when we often set ourselves
objectives and strive to improve ourselves, I would
nonetheless suggest that we give thought to what I
have said here about burnout and stress, which are
grave threats in our time. We are all human. Let us do
our best to nurture what is most important – people’s
health and wellbeing.”
NUTURE WHAT'S IMPORTANT SAYS PRESIDENT