Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06REYKJAVIK208
2006-06-09 17:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:
ICELAND WILL NOT ATTEND PSI HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL
how-toVZCZCXRO4109 OO RUEHIK RUEHYG DE RUEHRK #0208 1601721 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091721Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2822 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000208
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND WILL NOT ATTEND PSI HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL
MEETING
REF: SECSTATE 84640
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000208
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND WILL NOT ATTEND PSI HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL
MEETING
REF: SECSTATE 84640
1. Having forwarded a copy of the Polish invitation May 31,
post spoke with MFA Acting Political Director Thordur Bjarni
Gudjonsson June 9 to reiterate the significance of the
Proliferation Security Initiative High Level Political
Meeting as well as the planned high level of U.S.
representation. Gudjonsson reported that Reykjavik had
regretfully concluded June 8 that it had inadequate staff
resources to send someone to the June 23 meeting in Warsaw.
2. Comment: The Icelandic MFA is indeed stretched
especially thin at present: Political Director Bergdis
Ellertsdottir is on maternity leave until September;
Reykjavik hosted a Council of Baltic Sea States summit June 8
(even though it is not on the Baltic Sea); and the GOI
announced this week that Prime Minister Halldor Asgrimsson
would step down this month and that Foreign Minister Geir
Haarde would replace him. No new FM has yet been named, and
career Icelandic diplomats say they do not yet have a clear
read on whom the Government is likely to name as Haarde's
successor. End comment.
van Voorst
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND WILL NOT ATTEND PSI HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL
MEETING
REF: SECSTATE 84640
1. Having forwarded a copy of the Polish invitation May 31,
post spoke with MFA Acting Political Director Thordur Bjarni
Gudjonsson June 9 to reiterate the significance of the
Proliferation Security Initiative High Level Political
Meeting as well as the planned high level of U.S.
representation. Gudjonsson reported that Reykjavik had
regretfully concluded June 8 that it had inadequate staff
resources to send someone to the June 23 meeting in Warsaw.
2. Comment: The Icelandic MFA is indeed stretched
especially thin at present: Political Director Bergdis
Ellertsdottir is on maternity leave until September;
Reykjavik hosted a Council of Baltic Sea States summit June 8
(even though it is not on the Baltic Sea); and the GOI
announced this week that Prime Minister Halldor Asgrimsson
would step down this month and that Foreign Minister Geir
Haarde would replace him. No new FM has yet been named, and
career Icelandic diplomats say they do not yet have a clear
read on whom the Government is likely to name as Haarde's
successor. End comment.
van Voorst