Iceland’s prime minister and foreign minister skip Arctic Circle Assembly

Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir and Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir will not attend this year’s Arctic Circle Assembly, which began today at Harpa, mbl.is reported, citing aides to the ministers.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Múte B. Egede and EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela are among the first speakers in a discussion on the Arctic’s future. Ministers and diplomats from Turkey, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Faroe Islands, Estonia, India and Singapore are also due to take part.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and the chair of the American Arctic Research Council will discuss US plans for the Arctic. US Senator Lisa Murkowski is scheduled to speak on the assembly’s final day, Saturday.