Today a new Honorary Consulate of Iceland is opened in Prague. I congratulate our new Honorary Consul, Mrs Klara Dvorakova on this occasion.

I take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Honorary Consul Mr Þórir Gunnarsson for more than 25 years of service to Iceland-Check relations, and to the many Icelanders visiting and living in the Check Republic.

Consul Dvorakova has chosen a good day to open the Consulate of Iceland. Today is Iceland’s day of sovereignty. On first of December in 1918 Iceland became a proud sovereign country. I send my best greetings to all Icelanders living in Tékkía and say in Icelandic: Til hamingju með daginn.

The beautiful city of Prague has for long attracted Icelandic tourists, students and Icelanders looking for new opportunities. I am glad to say that many Checks also visit Iceland as tourists and quite many live permanently in Iceland. 

These people-to-people relations have made the relations between our two countries stronger. I want to build on these connections and support from the EEA Grants to develop more business relations between our two countries. 

I know of Consul Dvorakova´s energy and enthusiasm, and I know she is working with Ambassador Þórir Ibsen on ideas to further our people-to-people and business relations. 

I wish Consul Dvorakova all the best success in the future.