Foreign minister attacks former president and European far right

Foreign Minister and Reform Party leader Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir criticised former Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and European far-right leaders in a speech at Alþingi on Wednesday, mbl.is reported. She also said the government would respect the result of Iceland’s recent referendum on continuing talks with the European Union.

Þorgerður said Iceland would continue to stand firmly with Ukraine and Greenland, as well as with itself as an independent and sovereign nation.

“We continue to stand firmly with Ukraine, and that is exactly what I said to Zelensky at my long and productive meeting in Keflavík earlier,” she said. “Iceland stands with Ukraine. And of course Iceland stands with Greenland, although former powerbrokers in this country want us to keep a low profile.”

Her comments appeared to refer to remarks by Ólafur Ragnar, the former president, in the television programme Silfur when US President Donald Trump threatened to take control of Greenland. Ólafur had called for Icelanders to respond calmly and avoid drawing attention to themselves, saying the country was “in a reasonably good position in this situation”.

Þorgerður said Iceland would remain part of the “European family” despite the government respecting the referendum result.

She also criticised European politicians who welcomed the referendum result, naming Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally, Nigel Farage, leader of the UK’s Reform Party, Matteo Salvini, Italy’s transport minister and a member of the League, and members of Germany’s Alternative for Germany party.

“You do not get to define what the Icelandic nation stands for,” Þorgerður said. She added that the referendum result would change neither Icelanders’ values nor the country’s decades-long foreign policy.

She said Iceland would continue to support international law, the inviolability of borders and the right of nations to self-determination. She also said there had rarely been a greater need for liberal and reform-oriented political forces in a world of growing extremism and conservatism.

Þorgerður said Iceland needed to strengthen its position in Europe and its ties with close friends, including Norway, the United Kingdom and Canada. She added that climate change denial was not on the government’s agenda and that Iceland would continue to use its voice in support of equality and minority groups.