Embassy News 2006
First Round of Bilateral Defense Talks End in Reykjavik
U.S. officials from the State Department, Defense Department and the Stuttgart-based European Command met with Icelandic officials March 31 for discussions on bilateral security cooperation. The officials discussed a range of issues arising from the realignment of the U.S. Naval Air Station at Keflavik.
The 24-member U.S. delegation was led by Ambassador to Iceland Carol van Voorst. Senior members of the delegation included:
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mark Pekala
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense James Townsend
Rear Admiral Noel Preston, U.S. Navy, Commander, Navy Region Europe
Brigadier General Richard Mills, U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy Director of Operations, European Command
Brigadier General Thomas Coon, U.S. Air Force, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Operational Plans and Joint Matters, U.S.Air Force Headquarters.
The nine-member Icelandic delegation was led by Ambassador Albert Jónsson. Senior members of the Icelandic delegation included Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Political Adviser to Foreign Minister Geir Haarde, Helgi Ágústsson, Ambassador of Iceland in the United States, and Jón E. Böðvarsson, Managing Director of Keflavík Airport.