No Solution on Iceland-Britain Banking Dispute

Milarky

baby_boomer wrote: »

FT.com - Transcript seems to challenge UK government's position on Iceland

"A transcript of a conversation [on 7 October] between the UK chancellor, Alistair Darling, and his Icelandic counterpart appears to question the British government’s claim that Iceland had refused to compensate UK savers....."

This is priceless (if true)

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=314205

Mathiesen: Hello.
Darling: Hello.
Mathiesen: This is Árni Mathiesen, Minister of Finance.
Darling: Hello, we met a few months ago, weeks ago.
Mathiesen: No, we have never met. You met the Minister of Trade.
Darling: Alright, sorry.
Mathiesen: No problem.

JayTee99_2

Sorry, but i'm not convinced,

This is no 'smoking gun', just propaganda

just provides further evidence that Iceland's govt isn't to be trusted!

CluelessJock

I am struggling to identify the language used as that of Alistair Darling, unless it has been a translation issue?

cloud_dog

McElais wrote: »

However, unless there was a separate conversation that we don't know about, it also suggests that Darling had exaggerated what was said by his counterpart.

So you're expecting a politician to be open, honest, and truthful, and use words which aren't ambiguous; If you ever find one I’ll vote for them irrespective of party.

Did you think the Icelandic minister would actually come out and say……….. ‘We’re going to look after ourselves first and everyone else can sing for their supper’.

lCJ_2

Hi folks, just talked to Icesave they say an announcement is going to be posted on their website this afternoon. They would not let slip any info on content so i suppose we wait and see.......

T'Pau

CluelessJock wrote: »

I am struggling to identify the language used as that of Alistair Darling, unless it has been a translation issue?

Hello...Goodbye didn't ring true somehow...;)

T'Pau

lCJ wrote: »

Hi folks, just talked to Icesave they say an announcement is going to be posted on their website this afternoon. They would not let slip any info on content so i suppose we wait and see.......

What does that mean? 17.59? 23.59? What time does the Helpline close?

harrowing_3

What I am failing to understand is where exactly has our money GONE ? The icesave web site proclaimed that they were well capitalised and were not exposed to the "wholesale markets", so was that just another blatant lie and our money was invested in ropey companies?

In theory just because there's a run on a bank does not stop the remaining customers being repaid, does it?

meanmachine_2

lCJ wrote: »

Hi folks, just talked to Icesave they say an announcement is going to be posted on their website this afternoon. They would not let slip any info on content so i suppose we wait and see.......

I think we can guess the update:

"We are doing everything we can to keep you from your money. See? Clear difference from every other bank in the entire world. Suckers."

McElais

cloud_dog wrote: »

So you're expecting a politician to be open, honest, and truthful, and use words which aren't ambiguous; If you ever find one I’ll vote for them irrespective of party.

Did you think the Icelandic minister would actually come out and say……….. ‘We’re going to look after ourselves first and everyone else can sing for their supper’.

No to both, but what the Icelandic Minister actually said was:

“We have the [deposit] insurance fund according to the Directive and how that works is explained in this letter and the pledge of support from the government to the fund.“

This is quite different from:

"The Icelandic government, believe it or not, have told me yesterday they have no intention of honouring their obligations here," said Mr Darling.

Full details here: http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2008/10/24/17401/iceland-the-darling-tapes/