News and Events
Ambassador bids fare-well
At the Government Guesthouse in Ottawa on August 19, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada invited the Ambassador and his wife to a farewell-luncheon where a number of their friends and associates within the Canadian government departments as well as provincial representatives in the capital were present.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Deepak Obhrai, hosted the luncheon and addressed the Ambassador. Recognizing the Ambassador’s contribution to enhanced relations between Canada and Iceland, Mr. Obhrai said:
“Since you took on your duties as Ambassador to Canada on November 1st, 2005, this assignment meant considerable sharing of expertise. On behalf of your Canadian colleagues, we were privileged to have a sterling diplomat of your high calibre serving us in Canada.
You have raised the profile and knowledge of Iceland to new heights with parliamentarians, federal/provincial/municipal politicians and officials, businessmen, artists, academics, and community groups. You were instrumental in overseeing the successful visit of your Prime Minister to Canada in April 2008. His audience with Prime Minister Harper helped to achieve many of our goals.
While countries do not always agree on every issue, it is especially important to keep channels of communications open. In this regard, you will be remembered as a consummate diplomat who could advocate his country’s position while always remaining open to hearing differing points of view.”
Ambassador Antonsson thanked the hosts and other Canadian officials for their friendship and excellent cooperation over the last three years. Their assistance had been highly appreciated in a small Embassy. He was also very grateful for the warm welcome extended during his visits to all the Provinces and Territories of Canada during the course of his tenure.
The Ambassador referred to the early history of Icelandic-Canadian relations during the immigration period from Iceland to Canada. That fact and the devotion of the Icelandic-Canadian communities to Canada had set a favourable background for nurturing close relations between our countries.
The Ambassador then pointed out recent milestones in Icelandic-Canadian relations. First of all the free trade agreement, that comes into effect on Jan. 1, 2009, and the air transport agreement signed last year which paved the way for Iceland air’s new and frequent flights to Toronto and Halifax. Special relations with the provinces of Newfoundland Labrador and Nova Scotia have also been cultivated through visits by the Prime Minister of Iceland and the signing last spring of a declaration on cooperation in various sectors between Iceland and Newfoundland Labrador. Consultations on defence and security issues of mutual interest have taken place and the Prime Ministers of Iceland and Canada discussed our bilateral relations in Ottawa earlier this year.
