Should have sent top official to Paris
Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
The Prime Minister's office has issued a press release saying that in retrospect it would have been better to send one of the country's top officials to the Paris March last weekend where hundreds of thousands of people gathered along with over 40 world leaders to express solidarity against terrorism and paying homage to the victims of the terrorist attacks in the city.
Iceland was represented in the march by it's deputy ambassador to France as Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson was unable to fit the event into his schedule. Among other things because of short notice according to the PM's office. Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson was at the same time in New York organising a gender equality event at the United Nations. The absence of Gunnlaugsson has been harshly criticised in Iceland.
According to the press release the French Embassy in Iceland has reaffirmed that the government of France is greatful for the country's solidarity with the French people and how Icelandic authorities have responded to the tragic events in the French capital.
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