An Icelandic delegation held talks about the possible loan from Russia to Iceland in Moscow earlier today, according to Reuters.
The talks are reported to have gone very well so far and the next negotiations, deciding the amount of the loan, are scheduled for Friday.
“We were accepted very well. We still haven’t talked about the sum, as we have only had general discussion about the money matters in Iceland,” said Sigurdur Sturla Palsson, chairman of the Moscow comitee and director of the Internatriomal and market department of the Icelandic Central Bank.
I have quite a few German colleagues, either they are super nice or complete a..holes nothing in between :) Strange really :D
““arrogant and embarrassing behavior ” must be something they learned from Germany.”
Maybe, maybe. But whoever told them to learn from our weaknesses, and not our strengths???
:D
“arrogant and embarrassing behavior ” must be something they learned from Germany, it can’t be a Scandinavian thing :)
Well, firstly, the arrogant and embarrassing behavior of your bankers and politicians turned away many former friends. Anf then, those friends now have to concentrate on caring for their own citizen who became victims of the Icelandic Ponzi scheme. In such a situation you can’t expect much sympathy for the relatives of the evil doers.
If Iceland dicides to deal with Russia in these troubled times it might not be the wrong thing to do.
Russia has not shown the world in the past few years the aggression that US has, and there leadership appears more stable than some.
Extending a hand to my country is a good thing.
Any money will come with strings attached, western – it will cost you more money, russian – it will want political influence, and middlestern will want defence.
Dmitriy: You are wrong – the “friends” are not swimming around like sharks.
If we take the Nordic countries (Nordic Council – Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden)- they have already solved a lot of the issues, and the political issue is to get Icland back to normal as soon ever possible – that is the Nordic issue – and then they do things together – this is very important to understand.
Credit to Iceland was discussed oand open monts ago, and more can be given if Iceland wants to.
If someone wants to make conflicts – then start to make rumors. But if you don´t have the right information, them rumors are a really wrong strategy.
The Norwegian Prime Minister was asked about the Russian Credit – his answer like “Iceland is an independent country and can make deals with those they want – I don´t see the problem”. In fact the Nordic council (The Nordic house is in Reykjavik)use 20% percent of the budget to get better relations with Russia (www.norden.org).
Why is this loan not an political issue in the Nordic countries? Aren´t the Icelanders able to discuss loans? We know better. Perhaps this loan also is a test of business with Russia.
It is very important to understand that Iceland have a lot of friends.
Anders: I honestly do not know what the Russian Orthodox church has to do with anything?
When you write socialize; do you in fact mean nationalize?
I disagree with about 80% of what Putin did/does, but nationalizing the energy resources of Russia was a very good idea. At the time Russia was in the hands of robber barons, and the president was unable to rule the country. Putin put the power of the president back where it belongs, namely in the hands of the president. A step in getting Russia back on it’s feat is to nationalize the energy sector, all Arab countries have the same arrangement. Nothing new in that.
When things do not work governments have an obligation to step in.
In the US the financial system had defaulted, in russia it was their resources being usurped, what is the problem in taking action?
Yes, GreatDane, it’s true. Soviet Union dissoluted 17 years ago. Btw, moral power of Soviet Union disappeared after Stalin’s death (in 1950`s). After that people in Russia thought only about protection from NATO, while US was increasing it’s military potential significantly and now they have 600 or 800 (anyway, hundreds) of their perfectly well equipped huge foreign military bases all over the world. While Russia doesn’t have ANY bases outside our territory. Still we can protect our resources and doesn’t bend eveb under nowadays pressure from all the western media.
One more “btw”: in 60`s, 70`s, 80`s and 90`s word “Western Countries” for Russians were a synonym of prosperity, democracy and freedom. It was a countries of dream where people are happy and society is healthy and absolutely based on laws. Now it’s a synonym of ambitious aggressive countries without moral values and total control on everyone inside and outside them. Very few people whom I asked said that they would like to live in Britain or US.
So, who is Evil and who are enslaved? Sure, it’s Russia :)
Look. For 15 years Russia has been weak and soft on the international arena. How has US and the west treated Russia during this time? Not that nice, especially the US. Now Russia is entering the scene and playing the game like the US always have played it. Look at the roles today: Putin has socialized the energy market in Russia and Bush has done the same with the US financial market. Two socialistic buddies. What is the new interpretation of USA: United Socialistic America?
Maybe Keflavik will now be renamed Keflagorod and onion cupole churches will pop up in Iceland. Cool! We all want to love multiculture and be politically correct in Europe.
Dmitriy: I must agree, Russia today is not the same as the Soviet Union. The days when mother russia gave away natural gas and oil at huge discounts to friends and allies are over. Even Belarus have had their enrgy prices adjusted towards going market rates.
Iceland? Russian military base there? Exactly as to have a heart in the little toe. Commentators should think a bit.
More real – to ask Iceland to use it’s Veto power in sensitive issues in NATO, e. g. membership of Georgia and Ukraine in this aggressive organization (the most recent feats: Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgian aggression support etc.)
By the way, I tend to like the way of thinking of the Icelanders – you, guys, realized, that in this world you are alone despite all the surrounding “friends”, which are swimming like sharks around you and ready to eat as soon as possible. In this matter you are similar with us – Russia lives in this situation already for at least 1000 years.
Det er et bizart spil de spiller, bare fordi de er sure på USA går de omgående til Rusland? Meget besynderligt at det ikke har kontakt med Norge som besidder betydelige valuta reserver.
All Nordic countries want to make good relations to Russia and other countries. Peace can not be based on fear and hate.
Icland have a standing credit in Norway (sure also in other Nordic countries”), they just dont´t want to use that money now, but fine to have if needed.
Here is a link to information about the Nordic Countries and Russia.
http://www.norden.org/russland/uk/index.asp?lang=6
At norden.org you can learn more about the nordic community.
Hvilke betingelser kræver Rusland ?
Måske kræver Rusland på sigt at få Radaranlæg på Keflavik-basen ?
Hvad siger USA til det ?
RPH:
Nordic Central Banks offered a 1.5billion Euro loan for Iceland before summer that Iceland turned down. Thats a “friend” for you. Too late to be cocky and blaming other countries. You can find the guilty ones from your own country, unless they already fled. That small group of people played your monies. What comes to loan from Russia, Iceland is a free country and can do whatever it wants. Remember there just isn’t free money.
It might take years but everything will be fine there and believe me you will get help when needed.
Russia has cash now, and would be potential an investing partner: Iceland looks for hot money.
Russia can inject much money in Iceland, and also take miserable returns: trap.
Why Iceland don´t ask for help from China instead of Russian?
If you’ll borrow from Russia, then be prepared to slavery until at least the third growth! Trust me, I know what I am saying here – I am from Latvia and we had and have deals with this empire of Evil.
Russia has been threatning europe to turn the off natural gas if their wishes are not met… now iceland is going to sell them more energy power.
What I mean is influence… if russia loans the money, then they will have influence over who gets a peice of icelandic energy when iceland figures out how to manufacture it… No one else sees this? Russia and other countries who make most of their money from energy know for certain that iceland is a gold mine… the only ones´ who seem to not know this are icelandics themselves.. Instead of driving a practical car and shopping at bonus while investing money into energy, they bought range rovers and plasma screens. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS EASY MONEY. A price will be paid that money will not fix…
Nordic friends? Where were these friends when we were asking for their help first, as friends do and should.
We asked our Nordic and American ‘friends’ for help when we were down. They now only appear to want to help because Russia has stepped in. We value our friends, but it hurts our feelings they did not want to help when it was truly an act of humble friendship, not politics, that was requested.
Your leaders ignore that your Nordic friends are ready to help you. I dont think Russia have any good intentions in the long way.
Russian money doubtful origin in Iceland, UN aid or destabilize NATO strength in North Atlantic – USA, Canada, UK, Denmark, Norway – ? Possible alliance with Iceland, or belligerence of this one, would suppose a friction, a crack, in the Atlantic superiority: Russia awaits. Make sure support, or belligerence from Iceland, would be a success for the Russians. USA extends; also Russians try. Now, ball is Icelandic side: if Iceland accepts … will Russia deceive to Iceland, or will the Icelanders be those that will deceive Russia?
Dissapointing: allies money did not come to Iceland; hungry evil bear awaits: DANGER.
What does Russians want it out from the deal with Iceland? Can Icelandic handle it well in the future? Russian has strong army, but u don´t…