Currently released so far... 5267 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AORC
AJ
AM
AMGT
AE
AU
AGMT
AG
AS
AFIN
APER
ABUD
ATRN
AL
AEMR
ACOA
AO
AX
AMED
ADCO
AODE
AFFAIRS
AC
ASIG
ABLD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
AVERY
APCS
AER
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AEC
APECO
CU
CO
CH
CDG
CIA
CACM
CDB
CI
CS
CVIS
CA
CBW
CASC
CD
CV
CMGT
CLINTON
CE
CJAN
CG
CF
CN
CAN
COUNTER
CIS
CM
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
CL
COUNTERTERRORISM
EG
ECON
ETTC
EFIN
EZ
ETRD
EUN
ELAB
EU
EINV
EAID
EMIN
ENRG
ECPS
EN
ER
ET
ES
EPET
EUC
EI
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EWWT
ELTN
EREL
ECIN
EFIS
EINT
EC
ECONEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELN
EFTA
EXTERNAL
EINVETC
ENIV
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ESA
ENERG
EK
ENGY
ETRO
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ESENV
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
IV
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IN
IT
ICTY
IQ
ICAO
INTERPOL
IPR
INRB
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
IO
IC
ID
IIP
ITPHUM
IWC
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ICRC
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
INR
IRC
ITALY
ITALIAN
KGIC
KDEM
KTIP
KOMC
KNNP
KWBG
KU
KPAL
KGHG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KHLS
KSUM
KSPR
KJUS
KCRM
KGCC
KPIN
KDRG
KTFN
KG
KBIO
KHIV
KSCA
KN
KS
KCOR
KZ
KE
KFRD
KIPR
KPKO
KNUC
KMDR
KPLS
KOLY
KUNR
KIRF
KIRC
KACT
KRAD
KCOM
KMCA
KV
KHDP
KVPR
KDEV
KWMN
KMPI
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCFC
KTIA
KPRP
KAWC
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KTDB
KMRS
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KGIT
KSTC
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KO
KTER
KHUM
KRFD
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KFIN
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KSTH
KREL
KNSD
KTEX
KPAI
KHSA
KR
KPWR
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
MOPS
MARR
MNUC
MX
MASS
MCAP
MO
MIL
MTCRE
ML
MR
MZ
MPOS
MOPPS
MTCR
MAPP
MU
MY
MA
MG
MASC
MCC
MEPP
MK
MTRE
MP
MDC
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
MASSMNUC
MERCOSUR
MC
OVIP
OPDC
OPRC
OIIP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OAS
OEXC
ODIP
OREP
OFDP
OTRA
OSCE
OPIC
OECD
OPCW
OSCI
OIE
OIC
OTR
OVP
PARM
PREL
PTER
PHUM
PGOV
PINR
PINS
PREF
PK
PE
PBTS
POGOV
PROP
PINL
PL
POL
PBIO
PSOE
PHSA
PKFK
PO
PGOF
PA
PARMS
PORG
PM
PMIL
PTERE
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRGOV
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PINF
PGOVE
POLINT
PRL
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PHUS
PHUMPREL
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PINT
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PECON
SOCI
SY
SENV
SA
SP
SNAR
SG
SCUL
SR
STEINBERG
SF
SW
SU
SL
SMIG
SO
SN
SHUM
SZ
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
TS
TU
TX
TBIO
TW
TSPA
TH
TIP
TI
TRGY
TC
TR
TT
TERRORISM
TO
TFIN
TD
TSPL
TZ
TPHY
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TP
UK
UN
US
UNGA
UNSC
UNO
UNMIK
UV
UY
UP
UG
USEU
USUN
UZ
UNESCO
UE
UAE
UNEP
USTR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09REYKJAVIK68, ICELANDIC INTERIM MINISTER OF FINANCE AND FISHERIES
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09REYKJAVIK68.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09REYKJAVIK68 | 2009-04-07 18:06 | 2011-01-13 05:05 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Reykjavik |
VZCZCXRO1877
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRK #0068/01 0971805
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071805Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4040
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 REYKJAVIK 000068
SIPDIS
State for EUR/NB and OES/OA
Commerce for NMFS WHogarth
Treasury for Eric Meyer and Larry Norton
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2019
TAGS: ECON EFIN SENV EFIS PGOV IC
SUBJECT: ICELANDIC INTERIM MINISTER OF FINANCE AND FISHERIES
CONFIDENT ON IMF PROGRESS AND ICESAVE NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Ambassador Carol van Voorst for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
¶1. (C) Summary: During the Ambassador's farewell call, a tired
looking and clearly over-worked Steingrimur J. Sigfusson was
confident about the upcoming elections, happy with the progress with
the IMF, and encouraged by Iceland's negotiating position with the
IceSave accounts. Sigfusson's roles as Minister of Finance, Minister
of Fisheries and Agriculture, Deputy Prime Minister, and Leader of
the Left Green Party generated an expansive and wide ranging
conversation. If his party participates in the new government,
Sigfusson said that progress with IMF will continue on the new Letter
of Intent, Iceland will press harder for favorable loan terms from
the U.K. and the Netherlands on IceSave, and the commercial whaling
quotas will be reduced in the future. Sigfusson also said he was
considering seeking bilateral loans from the U.S. and Canada (the
Ambassador explained why he should not look to the U.S.) and believes
that Iceland is unlikely to seek E.U. membership any time soon. End
Summary.
¶2. (C) During the April 7 office call, Sigfusson confessed to the
Ambassador that he is extremely busy in his multiple roles of
Minister of Finance, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Head of
the Left Green Party and Deputy Prime Minister. He said that he
would be surprised if there were any big changes in the polls in the
last few weeks before elections, and barring some significant event,
he expected the interim government to return to office.
¶3. (C) Sigfusson admitted that he was never a proponent of an
International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for Iceland and felt that a
better option would have been to seek a Nordic-EFTA package of loans.
Sigfusson said he put a lot of work into that idea in November
(while he was in opposition) but was stymied by the former
government. He commented that a recent rise in public sentiment to
abandon the IMF obligations is being fueled "by the news from
Latvia." However, as a minister, he recognized that it is very
important that the IMF program continue and he emphasized that the
IMF representatives he has met have been professional and helpful.
He said work was being finalized now with IMF in Washington on a new
agreement to be completed soon after Easter, which will then be
presented to the IMF Board for consideration. Sigfusson said Iceland
has missed the annual meeting deadline but hopes the board will meet
in early May.
¶4. (C) On IceSave, Sigfusson felt the recent U.K. Parliamentary
report which criticized the U.K. government use of terrorism finance
laws against Iceland and Icelandic banks in October 2008 puts Iceland
in a stronger negotiating position. Sigfusson said the report was
harsh, and to his mind depicts Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair
Darling as lying about why the terrorism act had to be invoked.
Sigfusson cited the recent meeting between Foreign Minister Ossur
Skarphedinsson and British Secretary David Miliband and his own
recent correspondence with Dutch authorities as helpful in keeping
communications open. He said that the Icelanders are also giving the
U.K. and the Netherlands updated information on the overall debt
situation, which looks worse than it did in October/November. He
said at that time the IMF predicted debt as 160 to 170 percent of
GDP, but those figures have now been revised to 200 to 225 percent of
GDP. Sigfusson said the Icelandic people "are prepared to honor
their obligations," but to pay for the aggressive and speculative
"behavior abroad is unjust and unfair." Sigufsson stressed that the
terms of the loans to cover the IceSave minimum deposits are
essential -- it's very important that Iceland receive low rates with
a long grace period.
¶5. (C) On whaling, Sigfusson reiterated that his hands were legally
tied by the decision of his predecessor and that he has made it known
that if the interim government returns after the election, it will
work to undo future commercial whaling. Sigfusson confirmed he had
received the letter from Whole Foods grocery store, warning that it
will find substitutes for Icelandic products if whaling continues,
but did not seem to take it seriously. He admitted that he had
received a stack of similar letters but hadn't read them all. The
impression he left was that he is looking forward to handing the
Fisheries portfolio to someone else in the next government.
¶6. (C) Sigfusson said he wants greater cooperation with the U.S. He
especially wants to talk with the U.S. and Canadian governments about
bilateral loans to Iceland. The Ambassador clarified the lack of a
mechanism or legislative authority in the U.S. for such loans to
advanced nations. He commented that the loan Russia promised would
probably not happen because the Russians have not shown much real
interest and are seeking additional information from Iceland.
Sigfusson, who is an opponent of joining the E.U., gamed out for us
that regardless of who wins the parliamentary elections, the Althingi
is likely to be largely anti-Icelandic accession to the E.U. He
REYKJAVIK 00000068 002 OF 002
remarked that the Independence Party copied his party's platform and
they too are not pro-EU but would let the public decide the issue in
a public referendum if it came to that stage. He thinks EU accession
is doubtful in the near future.
van Voorst