Ávarp Geirs H. Haarde, forsætisráðherra, á Íslendingadegi í Mountain, N-Dakóta laugardaginn 4. ágúst 2007

Governor Hoeven,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Kæru vinir,

It is a pleasure to be back in Mountain and an honour to be invited to address the 108th Annual Deuce of August Icelandic Celebration. North-Dakotan hospitality is legendary and I have been looking forward to meeting old friends again.

I would like to start by paying tribute to all of those who have made  today´s Celebration possible and to those who have in past decades selflessly devoted time and effort to nurturing our common history and heritage. This work is important for Americans of Icelandic descent, their relatives and friends and it is deeply appreciated in Iceland. The Iceland settlement in North-America is prominent in our national consciousness and we take pride in seeing that our relatives have become respected Americans. What happens in North-Dakota matters in Iceland and we want to maintain close contact. The presence of the choirs from Iceland, Norðurljósakórinn and Kór Húsavíkurkirkju, bears witness to this.

When people left Iceland for North-America in the late 19th Century, it was not only to escape poverty and natural catastrophes but also to seek  space and freedom. This the United States offered in abundance and the greatness of this country was reflected in how the massive migration of the 19th and 20th Centuries was welcomed and assimilated. The United States is unique as a multicultural society, which instills a strong sense of nationhood but allows citizens to preserve their ethnic and cultural roots. North-Dakotans of Icelandic descent are good Americans who value their kinship with Iceland.    

The United States not only generously received Icelandic immigrants, but also played a pivotal role in the achievement and safeguarding of Icelandic independence. The early recognition by the United States of the Republic of Iceland in 1944, was crucial to getting international aknowledgement of Iceland breaking away from Denmark during the difficult years of the Second World War. The close security cooperation between Iceland and the United States during the Cold War, gave the young Republic an opportunity to consolidate its position in the world. At the same time, the fledgling Icelandic aviation sector sought inspiration and expertise in the United States, Icelandic students attended your colleges and universities and Icelandic products reached your markets. For us it has been a very special relationship.

The United States can take some credit for the fact that Iceland is today a very different country to the one which Americans of Icelandic descent left more than one hundred years ago. In one century, Iceland has progressed from being the poorest country in Europe to becoming one of the most prosperous countries in the world. This is the source of both pride and humility. We are proud of having shown that a very small nation, inhabiting a country with limited natural resources on the edge of the Arctic circle, has achieved so much. We are humble when we remember that this success is based on the efforts and sacrifices of our forefathers.

Despite the rapid changes taking place in a globalized world, Iceland and the United States remain close friends and Allies. The bilateral relationship is becoming more manifold and spans a broad spectrum from security cooperation to cultural interaction. This is not the exclusive domain of governments, but also includes the private sector and organizations. In this respect, North-Dakotans of Icelandic descent do play a role. What is done here in Mountain contributes to the overall relationship between Iceland and the United States.

I wish you all a happy continuation of the Celebration and hope that this tradition may long remain a joyful fixture in the life of the people of Mountain.