August 8, 2014 — According to the Russian Embassy in Reykjavík, Iceland is not included in the boycott list, but the embassy’s representatives would not comment on whether that could change.
Helgi Anton Eiríksson, CEO of Iceland Seafood International (ISI), one of the biggest exporter of Icelandic seafood, stated that Iceland must be careful in its relations with Russia in the coming days and weeks so that Russia’s importation ban on products won’t include Iceland.
“To land on the list would be a shock for us and for the interests of Iceland and our seafood companies. [Russia] is our most important market for pelagic seafood and especially for mackerel, now that we find ourselves in the middle of the mackerel season,” Helgi said in an interview with Fréttablaðið.
Russia yesterday placed a ban on the importation of various food products, including seafood, from the European Union, Norway, the U.S., Canada and Australia as a response to sanctions placed on Russia by these countries following Russia’s interference with internal affairs in Ukraine.
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson commented that Russia’s move does not in any way impact Iceland’s support for Ukraine.
Read the full story at Iceland Review