Rainbow coloured flags could be spotted all around Höfði, the house where Mike Pence, the Vice-President of the United States, stayed for most of his time during his one-day state visit to Reykjavík yesterday.
We thought it was a good day to celebrate diversity, said Þóra Tómasdóttir, communications director of the information technology company Advania in an interview with Fréttablaðið. Company flags were replaced by rainbow flags yesterday morning. Others in the proximity did so as well. Efling union, which has headquarters in the proximity flew rainbow flags as well.
Yesterday afternoon eleven associations held protests against Mr. Pence's stay in Iceland at Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, called Party Against Pence. Among organisers where the National Queer Organization (Samtökin '78), Association of Opponents to Warfare (SHA) and Trans Iceland. In a statement, the organisers called Mr. Pence's agenda and that of the White House an affront to those living in Iceland.
The press conference was held at Höfði, a historical building in Reykjavík.
During his short stay in Iceland, Mr. Pence met with Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, the president of Iceland, as well as Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, the minister of foreign affairs, Dagur B. Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavík and during the evening he met with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the prime minister of Iceland.
In his visit, Mr. Pence thanked the Icelandic authorities for years of friendship with the United States. He also addressed the challenges in the Arctic, following increased engagement by the Russian and Chinese governments in the region.
He thanked the Icelandic government for declining China's offer to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, the infrastructure development and investment project. Additionally, he warned the Icelandic authorities of engaging with Huawei, the Chinese tech company.
Prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Mike Pence.
President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and Mike Pence.
Rainbow coloured flags could be spotted all around Höfði, the house where Mike Pence, the Vice-President of the United States, stayed for most of his time during his one-day state visit to Reykjavík yesterday.
We thought it was a good day to celebrate diversity, said Þóra Tómasdóttir, communications director of the information technology company Advania in an interview with Fréttablaðið. Company flags were replaced by rainbow flags yesterday morning. Others in the proximity did so as well. Efling union, which has headquarters in the proximity flew rainbow flags as well.
Yesterday afternoon eleven associations held protests against Mr. Pence's stay in Iceland at Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, called Party Against Pence. Among organisers where the National Queer Organization (Samtökin '78), Association of Opponents to Warfare (SHA) and Trans Iceland. In a statement, the organisers called Mr. Pence's agenda and that of the White House an affront to those living in Iceland.
The press conference was held at Höfði, a historical building in Reykjavík.
During his short stay in Iceland, Mr. Pence met with Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, the president of Iceland, as well as Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, the minister of foreign affairs, Dagur B. Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavík and during the evening he met with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the prime minister of Iceland.
In his visit, Mr. Pence thanked the Icelandic authorities for years of friendship with the United States. He also addressed the challenges in the Arctic, following increased engagement by the Russian and Chinese governments in the region.
He thanked the Icelandic government for declining China's offer to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, the infrastructure development and investment project. Additionally, he warned the Icelandic authorities of engaging with Huawei, the Chinese tech company.
Prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Mike Pence.
President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and Mike Pence.
