The Icelandic delegation walked out of a meeting in Washington yesterday on the future of the US-led Iceland Defense Force reports television station Stöd 2. The Icelandic delegation was not satisfied with the US delegation’s new proposals.
According to Stöd 2 the leader of the Icelandic delegation, ambassador Albert Jónsson, stormed out of the meeting and said there was no basis for further discussions. Stöd 2 reports the official response from the US delegation was that the meeting had not gone as planned but an unnamed source within the US government told Stöd 2 that the conduct of the Icelandic delegation was not helpful.
Jónsson and Robert Loftis, leader of the US delegation, met privately yesterday, according to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RÚV; after their conversation it was clear that the parties have yet to reach a mutual understanding on the issues. According to RÚV the fact that the discussions were canceled will lead to much uncertainty; even though defense discussion are on hold extensive changes are taking place at the Keflavik base.
