The Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið, has refused to run an Op-Ed by the US ambassador to Iceland, Robert Cushman Barber. The ambassador had expected the article, which is titled Regarding economic sanctions, to appear in today’s paper, but when the article did not appear he published it on the embassy’s Facebook page with a short intro: “We sent the following article to Morgunblaðið, hoping it would be published in the Friday paper. Unfortunately this did not happen, and therefore we are publishing the article here.”
Response to criticism from Icelandic fishing industry over Russian sanctions
The ambassador’s article was written in response to an interview with the chairman of the Federation of Icelandic fishing firms, Jens Garðar Helgason which appeared in Morgunblaðið on Monday, January 4. Jens criticized the US in the interview, alleging it had a double standard when it came to economic sanctions against Russia over the conflict in the Ukraine. Russia has responded to Western sanctions by imposing an import ban on agricultural goods and fish products from the West, including Iceland. Icelandic fishing firms claim they will lose as much as 13 billion ISK (100 million USD/92 million EUR) on these sanctions.
Ambassador Barber rejects this criticism, arguing accusations of a double standard are based on misunderstanding. He emphasises that he and the US fully understands and sympathises with fishing firms and fishermen who have suffered economic losses due to the sanctions. At the same time, the ambassador stresses the importance of placing pressure on Russia and the need for Iceland, as an ally of the US and member of NATO to support the sanctions on Russia.
Morgunblaðið refuses to comment on the controversy
After the article was published on the Facebook page of the embassy the online edition of Morgunblaðið ran a story, summarizing the article, but omitted any mention of the reason why the article was published on Facebook. The paper or its editor have yet to comment publicly on why the article was not published.
A dramatic about-face by one of US’ staunchest allies in Iceland
The decision by Morgunblaðið, and its editor Davíð Oddsson, the former Prime Minister of Iceland and former chairman of the Conservative Independence party, not to publish the article is highly unusual and surprising.
Throughout the 20th century Morgunblaðið, which has always had close ties to the Conservative Independence party, effectively serving as a party’s official mouthpiece for much of the 20th century. The paper, and the Independence party, were the staunchest proponents of a close relationship between Iceland and the US.
Under its current editor, former prime minister and chairman of the independence party, Davíð Oddsson, the paper has moved further to the right. Oddsson, who is a firm Euro-sceptic, has on several occasions been highly critical of current leadership of the party, especially when it comes to foreign policy.
The Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið, has refused to run an Op-Ed by the US ambassador to Iceland, Robert Cushman Barber. The ambassador had expected the article, which is titled Regarding economic sanctions, to appear in today’s paper, but when the article did not appear he published it on the embassy’s Facebook page with a short intro: “We sent the following article to Morgunblaðið, hoping it would be published in the Friday paper. Unfortunately this did not happen, and therefore we are publishing the article here.”
Response to criticism from Icelandic fishing industry over Russian sanctions
The ambassador’s article was written in response to an interview with the chairman of the Federation of Icelandic fishing firms, Jens Garðar Helgason which appeared in Morgunblaðið on Monday, January 4. Jens criticized the US in the interview, alleging it had a double standard when it came to economic sanctions against Russia over the conflict in the Ukraine. Russia has responded to Western sanctions by imposing an import ban on agricultural goods and fish products from the West, including Iceland. Icelandic fishing firms claim they will lose as much as 13 billion ISK (100 million USD/92 million EUR) on these sanctions.
Ambassador Barber rejects this criticism, arguing accusations of a double standard are based on misunderstanding. He emphasises that he and the US fully understands and sympathises with fishing firms and fishermen who have suffered economic losses due to the sanctions. At the same time, the ambassador stresses the importance of placing pressure on Russia and the need for Iceland, as an ally of the US and member of NATO to support the sanctions on Russia.
Morgunblaðið refuses to comment on the controversy
After the article was published on the Facebook page of the embassy the online edition of Morgunblaðið ran a story, summarizing the article, but omitted any mention of the reason why the article was published on Facebook. The paper or its editor have yet to comment publicly on why the article was not published.
A dramatic about-face by one of US’ staunchest allies in Iceland
The decision by Morgunblaðið, and its editor Davíð Oddsson, the former Prime Minister of Iceland and former chairman of the Conservative Independence party, not to publish the article is highly unusual and surprising.
Throughout the 20th century Morgunblaðið, which has always had close ties to the Conservative Independence party, effectively serving as a party’s official mouthpiece for much of the 20th century. The paper, and the Independence party, were the staunchest proponents of a close relationship between Iceland and the US.
Under its current editor, former prime minister and chairman of the independence party, Davíð Oddsson, the paper has moved further to the right. Oddsson, who is a firm Euro-sceptic, has on several occasions been highly critical of current leadership of the party, especially when it comes to foreign policy.
