I am trying to find Eva Joly´s open letter which she published in Morgunbladid this weekend in English somewhere. It is a brilliant letter even though the assistant of Johanna Sigurdardottir asked her to stick to things that were her speciality instead on his Facebook page.
One of the suggestions Joly makes is the interest of Russians in Iceland. She states that if the UK and Dutch governments, the EU and the IMF don´t actively seek solutions for Iceland then there will be an exodus and those left behind will be at the mercy of those who will still want something to do with the country.
This is no imaginary scenario. Since last year, prominent Russian businessmen and investors have been frequent visitors to Iceland, assisted by some of the wealthiest Icelanders who not only see possibilities in selling their assets, mainly land and buildings, and gaining some powerful friends.
So don´t wonder when Russian oligarchs will step ashore with big pockets and great ambition. They are already here.
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Vilhjalm A.
2 years ago
Here’s the article in Aftenposten:
http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kronikker/article3195636.ece
And the google-translation:
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aftenposten.no%2Fmeninger%2Fkronikker%2Farticle3195636.ece&sl=no&tl=en&history_state0=
I’m not sure if she was serious about the possibility of Russian intervention. I think that emphasis was for Norwegian readers, to try to get them to do something (or scare tem) to help Iceland.
Norwegians are paranoid about the Russians. Our military policy is based on defense against a Russian attack — the Russians have a huge army and navy in the Kola Peninsula ready to seize Finnmark and swoop down the coast at any time. Plus the Russians are constantly doing careless things with their nuclear energy, like accidentally sinking nuclear submarines and spreading radiation.
Eva’s article is good but I don’t think it will do much good. Apparently the English wouldn’t print it, and Norwegians continue to show next to no interest in what happens to Iceland and as usual concentrate on nothing much at all — sports, vacations, gardening and their second-houses in the country. Their moral indignation is saved up for Palestine. The Palestinians got screwed by the Israelis and everyone else, you Icelanders screwed yourselves, or so the thinking goes.
As one comment noted,
“Norsk blod viser seg å være tynnere enn vann i denne saken. Kanskje er det slik at dette oppskrytte broderskapet er mest ment å funkere som en fernisering av norsk selvgodhet. Det eneste landet som har vist oppriktig og uselvisk solidaritet med det islanske folket er Færøyene. Det er vel med land som det er med mennesker ellers; når tidene blir vanskelige viser de sitt rette ansikt og du får vite hvem som er dine egentlige venner. Nå vet islendingene hvor de har Norge.
Dadi
2 years ago
Thanks Vilhjalm, I think you are absolutely right about the Norwegian interest in Iceland.
But I know for sure that Russians are circling around.
Carl Mosconi
2 years ago
As naive as the Icelandic politicians have been regarding Icesave, it wouldn´t surprise me to hear that the Russians would be welcomed with open arms. If that happens then Iceland can kiss it´s sovereignty goodbye!
The evil doers here, assisted by their attorneys, did enough damage on their own. They certainly don´t need any help from the Russian mafia!