Central Bank governor and chairman, and former prime minister, Davíd Oddsson met with the Althingi parliament’s Trade Council yesterday, where he refused to reveal the information he claims to have on why British authorities invoked anti-terrorism legislation to freeze Icelandic assets in the UK in October.
Oddsson indicated that he had information on the move that no one else in Iceland had in his speech at a meeting held by the Iceland Chamber of Commerce on November 18, which is why the Trade Council called him to the meeting.
But Oddsson just said that according to a banker’s protection of the customer’s right to privacy, he did not have the authority to reveal that information, visir.is reports.
Chairman of the Trade Committee, Ágúst Ólafur Ágústsson, said the meeting was a disappointment. “[Oddsson] said that banker’s protection of the customer’s right to privacy applies in this case, which is very unfortunate considering that the ministers have said that they don’t know why Britain employed that legislation.”
Ágústsson added that it is of great importance that Icelandic authorities acquire the information Oddsson claims to have while they are looking into their legal rights in relation to Britain’s actions.
“It is strange that he now hides behind the banker’s protection clause because in his speech at the Chamber of Commerce meeting he said that banker’s protection of the customer’s right to privacy does not apply to various points in this case,” Ágústsson said, concluding that Oddsson’s decision not to share this information with the Trade Committee is intolerable.
Copyright of photo of Davíd Oddsson: Icelandic Photo Agency.
