Í gjárkvøldið skipaði Sendistova Føroya í London fyri flaggdagshaldi. Flaggdagshaldið í London savnar nógv fólk. Í ár vóru millum 150 og 200 fólk, og tað er tað mesta nakrantíð.
Bretskir tinglimir, fleiri umboð úr diplomatiska kervinum í London, umboð úr vinnulívinum, embætisfólk, føroyskir útisetar og føroyavinir vóru millum gestirnar.
Løgmaður flutti fram røðu. Hann vísti millum annað á góðu útlitini í føroysku oljuvinnuni, frálíka úrskurðin í landgrunsmálinum og at avgerð nú er tikin um at reisa ein minnisvarða í Bretlandi til heiðurs fyri mongu føroyingarnar, ið lótu lív við at sigla vandasjógv undir seinna veraldarbardaga.
Flaggdagsrøðan hjá løgmanni kann lesast her:
Speech delivered by HE Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen, Prime Minister of the Government of the Faroes, at the Celebration of the Faroese Flag Day in London on Thursday the 24th of April 2014
Distinguished Members’ of Parliament, Your Excellencies, my Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening
I would first like to thank HE Ambassador Grube for hosting this evening’s event along with Mr Hansen Minister Counsellor of the Faroes.
Ladies and Gentlemen
On the 25th of April 1940, the British Government along with her wartime allies recognised our flag as the official flag of the Faroes. Today we come together to celebrate the occasion – children are painting the flag, speeches are delivered and choirs and brass bands perform at the many celebrations around the islands and now also abroad.
Amongst us today is Mr Harry Wilson veteran from the Second World War. Mr Wilson served in the Faroes, where he met his life partner.
On behalf of the Faroese people I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr Wilson and all other British soldiers who served to defend our islands.
This morning I had the honour to visit Lichfield’s National Memorial Arboretum commemorating people fallen during the Second World War.
During my visit we met an elderly gentleman who told me that he used to be a Royal Air force Pilot and often flew to the Faroes. During a peaceful spell he had once done a sight seeing trip with 25 local Faroese around the islands.
I have decided that our Government will erect a memorial monument in Lichfield for Faroese fallen during the war.
Today British Faroese relations are in many ways the same as they were. Britain is our closest neighbour and also one of our closest trading partners as most of our fisheries products are sold on the British market. Also an ever increasing number of our youth choose to study at the many great institutions here.
With the potential for oil and gas discoveries we expect our relations to become even closer. For some years we have prepared for an oil and gas industry. Oil and gas exploration in our part of the world is challenging and must be done with utmost care and consideration for the environment on which our other breadwinning industries depend upon. Techniques have improved
and oil and gas exploration in our kind of environment is more commercially viable than ever before.
This side of the border there has been considerable oil and gas production for many years now and we have every reason to be optimistic. Oil and gas exploration could become a pillar in our economy in the near future. We already have close relations in this area and expect a mutually beneficial collaboration when production begins.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Only two years have passed since I last had the honour to deliver the keynote speech here in London but so much has changed since my last visit. We are pleased to have been able to continue our presence in London which – I am sure you agree – is one of the capitals of the world. Our representation in London actively promotes good relations between the UK and the Faroes and we strive to continue strengthening our close bonds even further.
Ladies and gentlemen
What has changed? Well, I would like to mention three changes in particular firstly we are bigger – the Faroese geographical area has increased by almost 88.000 square km since my last visit. This means that although we have always been considered part of the
Arctic we are now inside the polar circle. We will continue our active role within the membership of Kingdom of Denmark together with Greenland and Denmark in the Arctic Council along with the other members. We believe in careful development of the Arctic whilst looking after our environment. We welcome the Polar Code on safety and environmental protection in the Arctic that is currently being written at the International Maritime Organisation.
Ladies and gentlemen
Secondly this time of year is special in our part of the world and so also in the Faroes: the days are longer, the sun is brighter and the birds are returning after having spent the winter in warmer climates and so we hope are some of the Faroese living abroad, now we are experiencing economic growth and our prospects are brighter than before.
Crises are also said to be opportunities for radical change in how we approach life. It is my hope now the prospects for the world economy are more hopeful that we will keep with us the lessons learned from the crises in particular to take care in every aspect of our life. Be it how we source our food, our cloths and other necessities including credit. This, in order to, look after our: communities, societies and nature.
And lastly on a much lighter note we look forward to welcoming the world to the Faroes to celebrate one of nature’s wonders: a full solar eclipse at 9.40am on the 20th of March 2015. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Finally, I would like to thank you for your time and consideration and I hope we will have an enjoyable evening together.
