Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary Benjamin G. Ziff in Reykjavík this morning to express the objection of Icelandic authorities to US President Donald Trump’s executive order, banning US entry to refugees, as well as the citizens of seven countries. Guðlaugur Þór detailed the consequences the order will have on Icelandic citizens with dual citizenship, who originally come from one of the countries covered by the ban.
Guðlaugur Þór sent out a statement, saying, “The US has always, and more so than most, welcomed immigrants with open arms, immigrants who have shaped the society in that country in a positive and decisive way. The executive order of the US president is, therefore, very far from what we are used to from the US and from the values we share. That causes us deep disappointment, and therefore, it was important to get the message across directly and in a clear way. Only a true friend will criticize you.”
Guðlaugur Þór, furthermore, expressed objection to the US president’s executive order banning the funding of organizations and institutions which provide information about abortion, or access to safe abortion abroad.
“Access to safe abortion is an important human rights and health care issue, which is why that executive order of the US president causes deep disappointment,” Guðlaugur Þór stated.
At the meeting, safety and defense issues, as well as Arctic affairs, were also discussed.
