Baltic capital mayors tour the city center
The Baltic capital mayors are on an official visit to Iceland, spending today touring the city with Reykjavík Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson, who visited their region earlier this spring. Reykjavík and the Baltic capitals are sister cities with a long history of cross-sector collaboration.
Riga Mayor Mārtiņš Staķis, Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius and Tallinn Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart are in Iceland for the official state visit of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian presidents. This trip marks more than three decades since diplomatic relations were established on Aug. 26, 1991, when Iceland became the first nation to recognize the Baltic states' restored independence following the Soviet Union's collapse.
Visiting the Marshall House, Brim and Harpa
To mark the occasion, the mayors are attending select events organized by the Office of the President of Iceland and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Following a dinner at Bessastaðir last night, today's itinerary began with a ceremonial gathering at Höfði to commemorate the 1991 signing of the declaration of diplomatic relations between Iceland and the Baltic states. The delegation then moved to the University of Iceland's ceremonial hall, where Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, president of Iceland, delivered a lecture titled "Icebreaker on the International Scene? Icelandic Support for Baltic Independence 1990-1991."
After lunch, the group toured the city — stopping at the Marshall House, Brim and Harpa, among other landmarks — as Mayor Eggertsson highlighted recent developments in the city center.
This afternoon, Reykjavík City Hall is hosting a reception for Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian residents of Iceland, along with others who share close ties to the Baltic region. The mayors' visit concludes with a dinner at Höfði tonight.
Photos from the tour
