Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers meet in Iceland

Ossur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, chaired an annual meeting of Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers in Iceland on Thursday 21 August.

Amongst the issues discussed at the meeting were energy and environmental issues, particularly related to the COP 15 conference which is to be held in Copenhagen in December. The Stoltenberg-report and security matters in the Arctic were discussed, as well as current international issues, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, relations with Russia, implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security and Lithuania’s upcoming chairmanship of the OSCE. Iceland’s application for EU’s membership and Sweden´s EU Presidency with focus on enlargement were also on the agenda.

The Ministers attending the meeting were Carl Bildt, Sweden, Per Stig Moeller, Denmark, Urmas Paet, Estonia, Alexander Stubb, Finland, Maris Riekstins, Latvia, Vygaudas Usackas, Lithuania, og Elisabeth Walaas, State Secretary, Norway.