Speech
by
Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
at the Opening of the new Embassy of Canada to Iceland
Dear Colleague, Mr. Ambassador, Ladies and Gentlemen, kaeru
landar.
It was one year ago, almost to the day (22 May 2001) that I
had the pleasure of formally opening Iceland's first Embassy
in Canada-Looking back to that sunny day I marvel at how time
flies, for it feels as if it was only yesterday that your predecessor,
John Manley, now Deputy Prime Minister, and I cut the Icelandic
blue, red and white ribbon at the new Embassy in downtown Ottawa.
It is indeed also very gratifying for me as a politician to
witness the fulfillment of an idea which Lloyd Axworthy and
I discussed many tunes. At first there were some obstacles to
overcome and Lloyd Axworthy flaw in the beginning little hope
of reciprocity, that is Canada opening an Embassy here, if Iceland
would open one in Canada. Things changed dramatically in the
year 2000 when Iceland celebrated the millennium of the discovery
of North America by the Vikings and the 125th anniversary of
the beginning of the emigration of Icelanders to North America.
In Canada alone over 200 Icelandic events were organized "
Iceland had returned to Canada in a memorable way that was noticed
throughout your beautiful and vast country. I shall never forget
when late in July 2000 the Viking ship, Islending, sailed in
to L'Anse aux Meadows after it had retraced the voyages of the
Vikings from Iceland to Greenland and further on to Newfoundland,
early August that year Lloyd Axworthy announced at the Islendingadagurinn
in Gimli, Manitoba that Canada would indeed open an Embassy
in Reykjavik.
And here we are today formally marking the end of the Embassy
idea phase and celebrating me new concrete basis for our even
closer cooperation in the future. For that is what our Embassies
are established to do: To bring us yet closer together m all
fields, be they political" and security matters, economic-
and trade matters or culture, science and education.
For Icelanders Canada ia a very special place. Speaking personally;
I have myself many relatives living in Canada, for six of my
Grandfather's brothers left Iceland and settled in Canada. During
my trips to Canada I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of
these cousins of mine and several of them have visited us here
in Iceland. It has been enjoyable to discover the warmth and
genuine interest the Canadians of Icelandic descent have in
modem Iceland and their distant relatives. And, as is to be
expected of people with Icelandic blood in their veins, they
are eager to learn about their ancestors and family trees, now
with flue help of vast data bases in Gimli and Hofsos.
Talking about our close ties I should also mention that Iceland
hag a Consulate General in Winnipeg, Manitoba, staffed by a
career diplomat from Iceland with ambassadorial rank. This is
one more proof of how highly we value our close ties with Canada
and the Canadians of Icelandic descent- The main role of the
Consulate General in Winnipeg is to strengthen the cultural
ties and to promote trade with the central and western regions
of Canada. Iceland is Canada's nearest European neighbour and
the ties have been manifold over the centuries. Iceland and
Canada have been close allies and partners in NATO from the
beginning of the alliance.
In other international fora we have had the same goals and
aspirations. In the humanitarian field, development cooperation
and in peacekeeping, Iceland has been increasing its contributions
and has often looked at die long and successful Canadian experience
and tried to learn from it.
Iceland assumes the Presidency of the Arctic Council this fall
and we arc looking forward to working closely with you during
the next two years. I have been an enthusiastic supporter of
the Arctic Council cooperation and I have through the years
greatly appreciated the Canadian leadership role in that forum.
Ladies and gentlemen, at festive occasions, like this one,
it is not popular to make long speeches. Let me just emphasize
that since I became Foreign Minister, it has been of special
interest to me to enhance and further strengthen the good relations
between our countries and peoples. Therefore, this day is particularly
important to me.
I would like to end my words by congratulating you on this
new Embassy and to wish Ambassador Skinner and everyone working
here the very best of luck and also the joy derived from a job
well done in furthering the friendly Canadian-Icelandic relations
even further.
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