The Nordic Council hosted a conference on “Democracy” in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 15 and 16 April.
Prior to the opening, the West Nordic Council presidium held meetings with the Nordic Councilo presidium and with the Nordic Council Committee of Culture .
The Nordic Council presidium The West Nordic Council was represented by Mr. Hjálmar Árnason, president, og Mr. Jógvan Durhuus, 1st. vice president.
The agenda was “Arctic Cooperation”. The president explained about the West Nordic Council’s priorities in Arctic work. He mentioned culture, hunting and infrastructure. In particular he pointed towards the health situation in the Arctic areas. This is clearly an issue that requires much attention and efforts in the future. Also, he reminded the presidium of the fact that the West Nordic Council has proclaimed Public Health to be main theme om the Council’s work in 2003.
The meeting with the Committee of Culture was arranged as a hearing. The Council’s 1st. vice president Mr. Jógvan Durhuus gave a presentation on the Council’s work in a cultural context. Also, Mr. Sölvi Sveinsson, Mr. Jón Yngvi Jóhannsson and Ms Benedikte Þorsteinsson lectured about the position of the west-nordic languages, west-nordic literature and about cultural arrangements at grass-root level.
