AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY PRIME MINISTER DAVID ODDSSON OF ICELAND

IN REYKJAVIK ON 27.9.1995

I wish to express my warm thanks for the hearty reception that we have been given. We greatly appreciate the interest that you, Prime Minister, have shown in our country and the knowledge of it that you demonstrate.

Today we have made a trip to Reykjavik's most modern facilities. We have driven through verdant valleys and mountains to the Nessjavellir geothermal power station, the likes of which I have never seen before. The Gvendabrunnar waterworks also earned our admiration. In addition to that, we visited the ultra-modern city hall and now we can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Perlan and admire its unique architecture.

Nearly all of the buildings were officially opened by David Oddsson, reflecting the Prime Minister's energy and wealth of initiative during his stint as Mayor of Reykjavik. As proof of the success of Finnish-Icelandic cooperation, we also saw a pipe system supplied by the Finns to carry part of Reykjavik's hot water without any significant loss of heat along the way.

When you spoke at a meeting of the Nordic Council in Stockholm a year ago, you emphasised that Nordic cooperation should be goal-driven and dynamic, as well as being founded on shared values and interests. You pointed out that, despite the fact that three of our number had opted for membership of the European Union, we would still have to ensure that Nordic cooperation continued to meet the needs of all of our countries, irrespective of whether they were members of or outside the European Union.

I can fully share your perception. It is also natural that we seek new forms of action that best meet the needs of the various countries. We have much in common and that will not diminish. Iceland's Althing and Government have in recent years produced many noteworthy initiatives to increase Nordic cooperation. It was on the basis of an Icelandic initiative and Icelandic work that a valuable exploration of Nordic cooperation in the arctic region was completed. This study was very necessary, because the establishment of an Arctic Council seems to be a possibility.

We can step up cooperation in the greatest variety of areas. Cooperation in, for example, energy, improving physical communication links and development of the health-care sector should be further developed in a way that brings benefits to all Nordic citizens. We can channel resources into an interaction between knowledge and ability.

The Kalevala tells of a man who drifted to a treeless island. When we look at the landscape in front of us, however, we know that the island cannot have been Iceland. Nowadays, more trees grow here than is generally thought in other parts of the world. Iceland and also the city of Reykjavik have set themselves ambitious goals with regard to afforesting more and more new areas. For ten years now, Finland has been Iceland's most important source of tree seeds. As a token of our interest in continuing to participate in this work, I have handed over a gift from the Finnish forest products industry of three kilos of larch seeds. Experts say that the seeds should produce more than 150,000 seedlings for planting.

I would like once again to express my thanks for the hospitality that we have received and to propose a toast to Iceland and the success of its people as well as to you, esteemed Prime Minister Oddsson.