One of the main topics of the conversation between Egils Levits and Guðni Th. Jóhannesson was current public health situation in both countries, as Latvia and Iceland seek to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Presidents of both countries also discussed various economic recovery scenarios implemented by both countries. Presidents of Iceland and Latvia agreed that the news about potentially effective vaccines are very promising and crisis caused by the pandemic will be over next year with the help of scientific community. They also stressed that governments and people of the European Union member states and European Economic Area countries were forced to restructure their economies because of the crisis, aligning them with European Green Deal and innovation targets. President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson also added that Iceland is currently implementing specific actions to reduce unemployment resulting from crisis, which has affected various communities, including the Latvians.
Presidents of Iceland and Latvia discussed the 30th anniversary of recognition of independence of Baltic countries next year and underlined the crucial role played by Iceland in restoration of Latvia’s freedom. ‘Iceland would like to draw special attention to this date and mark it with a discussion on future cooperation between the Baltics and Iceland,’ said President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, while Egils Levits said: ‘You led the diplomatic response of international community by being the first country to recognise the restored independence of Latvia, you broke the ice. It was a brave step that Iceland made based on its values and international law.’
President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson congratulated President Levits and people of Latvia with the forthcoming 102nd Anniversary of Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia this week. He shared his fond recollections of 2018 visit to Latvia and events marking the centenary of Latvia’s statehood. It must be added that the title of Guðni Th. Jóhannesson’s 1997 Master Thesis at the University of Iceland was ‘Iceland’s support for Baltic independence: 1990-1991’.
