Minister Sveinsson meets with the NATO Secretary General

Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson visited NATO headquarters in

Brussels today, where he met with the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh

Rasmussen.

At the meeting, the Foreign Minister discussed Iceland's foreign policy and

outlined the new government's priorities as regards security and defence

issues. The Minister emphasised the importance of NATO membership for

Iceland, which he describes as a cornerstone of Iceland´s defence. He also

underscored the importance of maintaining a close Trans-Atlantic

relationship, keeping up an active and a robust security and defence

cooperation between Allies.

The Minister hailed the willingness of Allies to participate and contribute

to the NATO Air Surveillance Mission in Iceland, where Italian air-squadron

is currently deployed and will be conducting the mission for the next

several weeks. He also discussed the forthcoming participation of Finland

and Sweden in Icelandic air surveillance, which is planned in conjunction

with a Norwegian deployment early next year. The Minister emphasised the

importance of Nordic cooperation in Iceland's foreign policy. He called

Finland's and Sweden's participation in the air surveillance an historic

step in Nordic cooperation, that was originally recommended by Thorvald

Stoltenberg, the former Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs of Norway,

in  2009.

The future challenges facing the Alliance were also discussed and how

member states can best strengthen and maintain their defence capabilities

in current times of financial austerity. Cyber security is among growing

challenges faced by the Alliance and the Secretary General welcomed the

decision by Iceland to join the NATO Centre of Excellence for Cyber Defence

in Estonia. 

The Minister emphasised also the importance of security and preparedness in

the High North. NATO's new Mission in Afghanistan, post 2014, was also

discussed and the Minister pledged  Iceland's willingness to contribute in

good cooperation with other Allies. The Minister underscored the importance

of gender equality and urged effective implementation of the United Nations

Security Council Resolutions on women, peace and security, in all aspects

of the Alliance's tasks, including in Afghanistan.

The Minister thanked the Secretary General for his steadfast support and

friendship towards Iceland and invited him to pay a visit to Iceland at the

earliest convenience.