Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says Norway will stand by its offer of a loan to financially troubled Iceland. He made the statement after talks with Icelandic Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson in Oslo on Friday. 

The Icelandic finance minister also had talks with his Norwegian counterpart, Sigbjørn Johnsen.

Sigfusson is visiting Norway to discuss the situation which has developed in Iceland following the decision by the President of Iceland not to sign into law the so-called Icesave legislation but to subject the bill to a referendum.

Norway has, together with the other Nordic nations, offered Iceland long term loans totalling Euro 1.775 billion in connection with an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

(NRK)

Rolleiv Solholm