Iceland tenders apology   
[Friday, October 05, 2007 - 7.45 GMT]    

The Government of Iceland has tendered an unqualified written apology to the Government of Sri Lanka for the unauthorized meeting of Mr. Bjarni Vestmann, Minister Counsellor of the Foreign Ministry of Iceland, with representatives of the LTTE, said a press release issued Wednesday (3) by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington.

The apology follows Foreign Minster Rohitha Bogollagama, who is currently on an official visit to Washington DC, taking up the matter with his counterpart Mrs. Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland on Wednesday morning. The Minister strongly protested the action of Mr. Vestmann, and requested his immediate recall.

“Foreign Minister Gisladottir emphatically stated that the Government of Iceland had not authorized Mr. Vestmann to make any contact with the LTTE, which he has done much to their disappointment,” said the press release further.