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Talk over Pinoy food leads to fruitful talks between RP, Iceland


MANILA, Philippines — Iceland President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is a fan of Filipino food, and discussed it during a conversation with Philippine Ambassador to Oslo Elizabeth Buensuceso late last month. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday the talks last April 28, when Buensuceso presented her credentials to the Icelandic president, led to discussions over other "concerns." "During the meeting which took place at the Bessastaðir, the president’s residence in Reykjavik, Ambassador Buensuceso and President Grímsson discussed various topics ranging from Filipino food, of which the President is a fan, to prospects of recovery for Iceland after being hit hard by the financial crisis, and continued cooperation in geothermal energy and the fisheries sector," said a report on the DFA’s website (www.dfa.gov.ph). President Grímsson expressed hopes for stronger and closer relations between the Philippines and Iceland, it added. Buensuceso also met with Icelandic Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson and other officials to discuss prospects for further cooperation, particularly in the fisheries and geothermal sector. The DFA said the Foreign Minister informed Buensuceso that Iceland will be placing much focus on its fundamental strengths – renewable energy and the fisheries sector – areas where in the Philippines is also competitive and where continued and strengthened cooperation between the two countries is possible. Also, Buensuceso voiced out concerns over the restrictive remittance and exchange policies currently in place in Iceland. She suggested as a possible alternative the allowance or imposition of maximum amounts for currently exchanges or remittances, allowing the maximum exchange or remittance of $300-500 for a specific period of time. The envoy explained the remittances of Filipinos working in Iceland are not meant for savings but for basic and life-or-death needs of their families in the Philippines. "The Icelandic officials assured the Ambassador that they would convey her request to the Central Bank of Iceland. She was also informed that said restrictions will hopefully be lifted by this summer (June to August)," the DFA said. While in Iceland, Buensuceso and the Embassy staff who accompanied her conducted a consular outreach and Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV) registration for the Filipino community. The consular outreach program and the OAV registration took place from 26-28 April at Honorary Consul Maria Priscilla Zanoria’s office. Some 67 Filipinos registered for the OAV while 66 availed of the new Machine Readable Passport (MRP). Three Filipino-Icelandic nationals also took the oath of allegiance to re-acquire their Filipino citizenship. Assisting the ambassador were Vice Consul Lenna Eilleen de Dios, Honorary Consul Maria Priscilla Zanoria, Ms. Consuelo Cauton, and Anna Marie Caraig. - GMANews.TV
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