PM could not attend Paris March
Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. mbl.is/Árni Sæberg
Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson was unable to attend the Paris March today where hundreds of thousands of people gathered along with over 40 world leaders to express solidarity against terrorism and paying homage to the victims of last week's terrorist attacks in the city.
Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, political advisor to the Prime Minister, said Gunnlaugsson received an invitation to participate in the event late Friday afternoon but was unable to accept it. However, he stressed that Gunnlaugsson had met with the French ambassador to Iceland last week to express solidarity and sympathy with the French people. Skúlason furthermore said Iceland had nevertheless been represented at the Paris March as the country's deputy ambassador, Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, was present.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's office Gunnlaugsson could not attend the event due to lack of time and his previous schedule. Meanwhile Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson is in New York preparing a gender equality conference at the United Nations.
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