Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07REYKJAVIK69
2007-03-16 17:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:
ICELAND UNVEILS PLANS FOR UNIVERSITY ON KEFLAVIK BASE ONE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRK #0069 0751728 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 161728Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3202 INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0241 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0291
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000069
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/PPD
OSLO FOR DATT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND UNVEILS PLANS FOR UNIVERSITY ON KEFLAVIK BASE ONE
YEAR AFTER BASE CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000069
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/PPD
OSLO FOR DATT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND UNVEILS PLANS FOR UNIVERSITY ON KEFLAVIK BASE ONE
YEAR AFTER BASE CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT
1. Summary: The one-year anniversary of the March 15, 2006
announcement of the closing of U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik
(NASKEF) passed quietly, marked only by the announcement that part
of the former base will become a university-level institution
focusing on international education and technology. End Summary.
2. There was no media coverage of the base closing in the weeks
leading up to the anniversary of the announcement. On March 14, the
day before the anniversary, Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde mentioned
in a speech to the Althing (Parliament) that the base closing,
although unexpected, had resulted in the transfer of valuable
property to the Iceland and opened economic development
opportunities.
3. Haarde's speech was a prelude to a ceremony held in the base's
former chapel on March 15 unveiling the plans for a university-level
education center. The ceremony was covered March 16 by leading
daily Morgunbladid, under the headline, "Moving Forward at Keflavik
Base." During the ceremony local officials of Reykjanesbaer, the
Keflavik Airport Development Corporation (Kadeco) and the University
of Iceland signed a declaration of intent in cooperation with
several business enterprises to establish a new international
academic community on part of the former base. The plan is to
exploit the area's strengths including energy, air traffic and
services and international affairs. Representatives of businesses,
including Icelandair, The Blue Lagoon, Glitnir bank, Geysir Green
Energy, and the air traffic control Flugstodir, were also present.
4. Local officials could barely contain their glee. "We are forging
plowshares out of swords," declared Reykjanesbaer Mayor Arni
Sigfusson at the signing ceremony. He said one of the most
attractive characteristics of the base is its close proximity to
Keflavik International Airport. "You could say this is an ideal
location." In a later interview with nationwide broadcaster
RUV-Radio, Mayor Sigfusson said the base had "first-class"
facilities, and that the sports facilities, which include a
gymnasium, large indoor swimming pool and gymnastic equipment, are
probably the best in the entire country.
5. Runolfur Agustsson, former rector at Bifrost University, has been
studying the feasibility of a university at the base site. He said
the aim of the educational center will be three-fold: to strengthen
the general educational level in Reykjanesbaer, to strengthen
vocational training in the area, and to stress university-level
education in English to attract more foreign students and teachers.
He said the structure of the educational center has not yet been
determined, but he believes a university preparatory department
could begin operations in the fall. "We foresee an academic
community of 1800-2000 people in seven years' time," he said.
Agustsson said he expects the University of Iceland to be the key
participant in the project.
6. The CEO of Kadeco, Jon Astradur Jonsson, told post that the
university project is not the only project planned for the base. He
said that there are still several others in the works. Jonsson said
that the buildings are pretty much in "move-in" condition for the
university, so minimal work will need to be done.
7. Embassy Comment: The lack of media and press attention to the
anniversary of the announcement underlines that the steam has gone
out of the issue of the base closure-as Social Democratic Alliance
leader Ossur Skarphedinsson told the Ambassador this week, Iceland
has "moved on to other issues." The reiteration at the ceremony
yesterday that the U.S. had left the facilities in first-class
condition was a welcome acknowledgement of the fine work of former
base commander Captain Mark Laughton and his team in maintaining and
then shutting down the base. The establishment of a university on
the former base will be an excellent use of the real estate and
facilities we turned over, and will have a permanent impact on the
wellbeing of the Icelandic public.
VAN VOORST
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/PPD
OSLO FOR DATT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND UNVEILS PLANS FOR UNIVERSITY ON KEFLAVIK BASE ONE
YEAR AFTER BASE CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT
1. Summary: The one-year anniversary of the March 15, 2006
announcement of the closing of U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik
(NASKEF) passed quietly, marked only by the announcement that part
of the former base will become a university-level institution
focusing on international education and technology. End Summary.
2. There was no media coverage of the base closing in the weeks
leading up to the anniversary of the announcement. On March 14, the
day before the anniversary, Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde mentioned
in a speech to the Althing (Parliament) that the base closing,
although unexpected, had resulted in the transfer of valuable
property to the Iceland and opened economic development
opportunities.
3. Haarde's speech was a prelude to a ceremony held in the base's
former chapel on March 15 unveiling the plans for a university-level
education center. The ceremony was covered March 16 by leading
daily Morgunbladid, under the headline, "Moving Forward at Keflavik
Base." During the ceremony local officials of Reykjanesbaer, the
Keflavik Airport Development Corporation (Kadeco) and the University
of Iceland signed a declaration of intent in cooperation with
several business enterprises to establish a new international
academic community on part of the former base. The plan is to
exploit the area's strengths including energy, air traffic and
services and international affairs. Representatives of businesses,
including Icelandair, The Blue Lagoon, Glitnir bank, Geysir Green
Energy, and the air traffic control Flugstodir, were also present.
4. Local officials could barely contain their glee. "We are forging
plowshares out of swords," declared Reykjanesbaer Mayor Arni
Sigfusson at the signing ceremony. He said one of the most
attractive characteristics of the base is its close proximity to
Keflavik International Airport. "You could say this is an ideal
location." In a later interview with nationwide broadcaster
RUV-Radio, Mayor Sigfusson said the base had "first-class"
facilities, and that the sports facilities, which include a
gymnasium, large indoor swimming pool and gymnastic equipment, are
probably the best in the entire country.
5. Runolfur Agustsson, former rector at Bifrost University, has been
studying the feasibility of a university at the base site. He said
the aim of the educational center will be three-fold: to strengthen
the general educational level in Reykjanesbaer, to strengthen
vocational training in the area, and to stress university-level
education in English to attract more foreign students and teachers.
He said the structure of the educational center has not yet been
determined, but he believes a university preparatory department
could begin operations in the fall. "We foresee an academic
community of 1800-2000 people in seven years' time," he said.
Agustsson said he expects the University of Iceland to be the key
participant in the project.
6. The CEO of Kadeco, Jon Astradur Jonsson, told post that the
university project is not the only project planned for the base. He
said that there are still several others in the works. Jonsson said
that the buildings are pretty much in "move-in" condition for the
university, so minimal work will need to be done.
7. Embassy Comment: The lack of media and press attention to the
anniversary of the announcement underlines that the steam has gone
out of the issue of the base closure-as Social Democratic Alliance
leader Ossur Skarphedinsson told the Ambassador this week, Iceland
has "moved on to other issues." The reiteration at the ceremony
yesterday that the U.S. had left the facilities in first-class
condition was a welcome acknowledgement of the fine work of former
base commander Captain Mark Laughton and his team in maintaining and
then shutting down the base. The establishment of a university on
the former base will be an excellent use of the real estate and
facilities we turned over, and will have a permanent impact on the
wellbeing of the Icelandic public.
VAN VOORST