Greece–Iceland relations

Greek-Icelandic relations
Map indicating locations of Greece and Iceland

Greece
Iceland

Greek–Icelandic relations are foreign, economic and cultural relations between Greece and Iceland. Greece is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Oslo, Norway and through an honorary consulate in Reykjavík. Iceland is represented in Greece through its embassy in Oslo, Norway and through an honorary consulate in Athens. They have been firm allies for over 60 years, and have reaffirmed their ties recently at the highest levels of contacts. Both nations are members of NATO, OSCE, COE, and the UN.

Historical context

Both nations are full members of the OECD, and they have been since 1961.[1][2]

Recent ties

The President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, visited Athens in September 2001, where he met with President Kostis Stephanopoulos.[3] In a return visit in early July 2006, the new President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias, came to Iceland and met with President Ólafur. Among other subjects, they discussed strengthening the relations between Greece and Iceland, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and banking, in addition to the natural fishery products imported from Iceland to Greece.[4] Papoulias also met in Reykjavík with the Prime Minister of Iceland Geir Haarde and discussed subjects such as joint cooperation in the economic sector in the Balkans. During this trip the Foreign Minister of Greece Theodoros Kassimis and the Foreign Minister of Iceland Valgerður Sverrisdóttir signed an agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation.[5]

On August 28, 2007, Greece and Iceland reaffirmed their long-standing ties at an official meeting between Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde, "who was on a working visit to Greece."[6] Karamanlis was reported to have said:

relations between the two countries were exceptional, while their cooperation was excellent at both bilateral level and in international organisations, but added that many opportunities for furthering cooperation existed in the economy, in investments and in the tourism sector.[6]

The Greek Prime Minister is interested in Iceland's "many energy reserves."[6] He specifically thanked "Haarde for Iceland’s backing of Greece on the Macedonia naming dispute."[6][7]

Trade and investment

In 2008, Iceland directly exported goods worth ISK 288.7 million to Greece and imported goods worth ISK 271.6 million, or about US$3.5 million in both directions at mid-2008 rates.[8]

In 2005, Thor Bjorgolfsson was involved in a controversial attempt to purchase 16% of the shares of Forthnet, a Greek company involved in the Telecommunications and Internet sectors.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sally Jacobsen, "OECD Predicts 4% U.S. Economic Growth; Forecasters Also Expect Germany to Recover Strongly This Year," The Washington Post, June 7, 1994, page d.03, found at Washington Post archives Archived 2012-10-20 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed April 22, 2009.
  2. ^ Joel Haveman and Norman Kempster, "World View The Case of the Diasppearing Worker: What's Gone Wrong? National economies are growing, yet unemployment is on the rise. Some blame technology; others cite high wages and social programs," Los Angeles Times, July 6, 1993, found at LA Times archives. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  3. ^ "Address by the President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson" (PDF). Forseti Íslands 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  4. ^ Επίσημη επίσκεψη Κ. Παπούλια στην Ισλανδία (in Greek). Athens News Agency. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  5. ^ "Agreement on Greece - Iceland to avoid double taxation". naftemporiki. 7 July 2006. Archived from the original on 21 February 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d "Greece, Iceland reaffirm ties". New Europe. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 July 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  7. ^ "Greece, Iceland reaffirm ties". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  8. ^ "External trade". Statistics Iceland. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Greece: Iceland's Tycoon behind 16% purchase in Forthnet". Premium S.A. Greece. 15 September 2005. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2009.