Thirty years ago, Iceland was the first to recognize Latvia’s independence / Article

This is an important week in the history of Latvia’s international relations. Tomorrow marks exactly 30 years since Iceland became the first country to dare to both the Soviet empire and the rest of the world loudly state that Latvia has regained its freedom after 50 years of occupation by the USSR and must return to the world map as an independent state. Lithuania and Estonia received similar recognition from Iceland. For this, Iceland will always have a very special place in the hearts of the Baltics.

Inita Kaimiņa, a Latvian living in Iceland, says: “This stone was brought from Latvia. Love. Part of my house, from Latvia. There is a small, small crypt here from Latvia. As if Iceland is my home, but still my home, where I was born and raised, where my parents, my grandchildren, are Latvia, where we try to mark the most important dates in Latvia – we put out candles on November 11. On November 18, we gather to sing a song and also on May 4. We plan to we will still be given flagpoles so that we can raise our flags “.

Another Latvian living in Iceland, Ilze Važa-Frolova, talks from her experience about the support she felt in Iceland. Although she had initially planned to stay in Iceland for a short time, it has been 13 years since she lived here. She says: “I think Icelanders are the most understanding people in the world, at least one of them. And I’ve been grateful for that many times.”

A small house in Iceland is also connected with the fate of Latvia. The main opponents of the Cold War – the United States and the USSR – held a meeting of their leaders in Iceland. Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev were discussing nuclear weapons here and could not really agree on anything. Gorbachev did not accept Reagan’s intention to talk about human rights. Shortly afterwards, the collapse of the Soviet empire followed.

A few years later, the act of recognition of the restored independence of the Baltic States adopted by Iceland is signed in the same house. The Foreign Ministers of Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will also sign protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations. As Jon Baldvin Hannibalson, the first Icelandic politician to come to Latvia at the time, later admitted, Iceland chose “not to enslave the USSR leader Gorbachev”.

At the time, the President of Iceland was Vigdis Finnbogatutira – and that was unusual, too, because she was the world’s first woman to be democratically elected President. And much later, after the recognition of Latvia, when he arrived as a guest for the first time, he was glad that he was present in the historical decision.

Vigisa Finnbogatutira emphasizes: “Yes, I remember it as if it had happened yesterday. At that time I was president, and we were so pleased at the time that we had such a significant role and significant privilege – to recognize Latvia’s independence, to be the first to do so. “It is because people who have been oppressed know what captivity means, so they are always ready to support freedom in their hearts. For many centuries, Iceland has also been subject to immigrant rule.”

With the change of presidents and prime ministers and the exchange of reciprocal visits, there has been a lot of talk about what unites us. This was also the case when the current President of Iceland visited Latvia during our country’s centenary celebrations.

Wise Juhanneson recalls: “Of course, Iceland did not overthrow the Soviet Union and did not play a decisive role in restoring the independence of the Baltics – Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians themselves did. But small countries can still play an important role if they are focused on the goal. what people are talking about, and if people with their minds and hearts are willing to do a little bit, then small countries can and must play a big role. As small countries, you must ensure and rely on respect for international law, the rules of the game and international borders. planets.

Ilze Važa-Frolova: “In fact, it seems to me that for Icelanders it is like … it is their business – to be the first and do something good! Because, it turns out that after the Baltic States, Icelanders also recognized the independence of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Croatia and Montenegro after that, and by the way – also the first to recognize the Palestinian state. thank you! ”

Rainis’ words added to “Latvijas akmenis” very aptly apply to both us and Icelanders – “We are a small tribe. We will be as big as our will.”

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