Víkingasýning - Washington
Vikings
The North Atlantic Saga
Washington,
April 28, 2000.
Yesterday was a historic day for the Nordic countries as we gathered here in Washington to take part in the grand opening of the exhibition, Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga. I remember with fondess when I stood at this same podium one year ago with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to officially launch the exhibition. All our dreams about it have come true due to the excellent work done by the Smithsonian Institution.
We all set ourselves high aims, and when discussing the competitiveness of nations in modern times, the term "The Northern formula for success" has been used to describe the position of the Nordic countries. Although we have not reached the strength of the United States all of our nations are highly regarded for their impressive perfomance on the world stage.
Investment in technological infrastucture, internet connections, telecommunication, computer usage and the impact of the "New Economy" are the main reasons for our high standing. If I refer to my own country a recent survey shows that 70% of Icelanders between the age of 16 and 75 have access to the Internet at school, home or work.
It might be said that today we are still driven by the same innovative spirt that lead the Vikings to Vinland and made the North Atlantic Saga we are celebrating here in Washington.
As I congratulate the Smithsonian Institution on this excellent exhibition I want at the same time to welcome especially its great interest in giving the public both this and other opportunities to meet with the experts who have studied the Vikings. They have already very much to tell us about their findings, as we can see in the fine book published in connection with the exhibition, but I am convinced that more data is still to be found about our common North Atlantic heritage.
International cooperation in education and student training is developing in the North Atlantic region, I would like to mention as an example the Field School in Icelandic Archeaology at Hofstadir in Northern Iceland. Its success has just been confirmed by a major new three year grant by the US National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs, Artic Social Sciences program. The grant will enhance a four year cooperation that has already drawn students from 22 countries to take part in a cooperative investigation of Iceland´s Viking heritage.
I find it appropriate to use this opportunity to thank the National Science Foundation for its support. It reflects the continued importance of the cultural, educational and scientific links that connect the Old and the New World.
Those links have never been made as visible in North America as by this great initiative of the Smithsonian Institution.