The Nordic Countries and the European Security and Defence Policy

340 THE NORDIC COUNTRIES, THEIR REGION AND EUROPEuniformed international aid organizations (e.g., the Red Cross and MédecinsSans Frontières) faced as much danger outside the airport as those in uniform.The head of the ICRU pointed to the facts that its personnel had had to wearuniforms and carry weapons from the time of Iceland’s first international peacekeepingdeployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994; that they had done thesame at Kabul only at NATO’s request; that they carried guns only for selfdefence;and that they had never been attacked directly before. 53 HalldórÁsgrímsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs 1995–2004 and now Prime Minister,has repeatedly stated that it is ‘ridiculous’ to argue that the creation of the ICRUis a step towards an Icelandic army. ‘There is no interest in creating an army inIceland and the government has no plans whatsoever for creating an army’; onthe contrary, it wants to create a peacekeeping unit. 54 Ásgrímsson argues thatIceland has gained a lot of respect and status within NATO for its conduct ofthe missions in Kabul and Pristina, 55 and the head of the ICRU has added thefamiliar argument about Iceland’s role in NATO changing from that of arecipient to that of a contributor. 56 Furthermore, Ásgrímsson stated that Icelandhas earned international recognition for its readiness to conduct such bigoperations precisely because it did not have an army:I think that a country without an army will always be a more convincing peacekeeper. . . I foresee that Iceland will participate in more and more projects . . . and I think thatwe [Iceland] will work more closely with the other Nordic states but at the same timewe have used the opportunity to gain status within NATO . . . It can be said that theprojects in Pristina and Kabul are part of what Iceland contributes to NATO. Weregard this contribution as very important in the light of the importance of NATO. 57Ásgrímsson has rejected all forms of participation in ‘military operations’ andstates that Iceland’s mission starts only ‘when peace has been established and itis our role to keep the peace’. 58 He emphasizes that Iceland has become a moreactive member of NATO and that ‘the member states are under enormous pressureto contribute more to NATO. A contribution from every member state isexpected’. 5953 Sigurjónsson, A., head of the ICRU, Interview in ‘Aukin umsvif og kostnaur vi Íslensku friargæsluna’[Increased contribution and cost of the Icelandic peacekeeping unit], Morgunblai, 31 Oct.2004, URL .54 Ásgrímsson, H., Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Interview in ‘Herlaust land er sannfærandiboberi friar’ [A country without a military is a convincing messenger of peace], Morgunblai, 8 June2004, URL (authors’ translation).55 Ásgrímsson (note 54).56 Sigurjónsson (note 53). In accordance with a promise made by the Icelandic Government at theNATO Heads of State meeting in Prague in Nov. 2002, Iceland has contributed to the costs of the transportof equipment for member states to Afghanistan; e.g., it paid for the transfer of 6 helicopters from theNetherlands.57 Ásgrímsson (note 54).58 Ásgrímsson (note 54).59 Ásgrímsson (note 54).