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DE RUEHRK #0270 3221630
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P 171630Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3892
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000270 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV IC
SUBJECT:  ICELAND REACHES AGREEMENT ON ICESAVE, OPENING DOOR FOR IMF 
DEAL TO BE APPROVED 
 
¶1. (SBU) The governments of Iceland, the United Kingdom and the 
Netherlands came to an agreement November 16 on the compensation for 
deposits held in Icesave accounts, the online savings accounts 
offered by now-nationalized Landsbanki.   The Icelandic government 
will pay the first EUR 20,000 (25,300 USD) for each Icesave account, 
per the EU directive on deposit guarantees, but will not be 
responsible for savings above that amount.  The schedule of payments 
and other details are still to be negotiated.  The European Union 
will extend a loan to Iceland for the purpose of paying off this 
Icesave debt.  The statement from the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign 
Affairs said the talks were initiated by the French EU Presidency 
and "led to a common understanding that will form the basis for 
further negotiations."  The statement also said the EU "will 
continue to participate in finding arrangements that will allow 
Iceland to restore its financial system and economy," and will 
support Iceland in the IMF. 
¶2. (SBU) The Icesave dispute reportedly held up the additional 4 
billion USD in loans Iceland needed for the IMF package and the 2.1 
billion USD IMF loan.  Prime Minister Geir Haarde said that Iceland 
had been told in no uncertain terms "that nobody will take part in 
lending" to Iceland until the Icesave dispute was resolved. 
Minister for Foreign Affairs Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir echoed 
that the government had received clear messages not only from the UK 
and Holland, but also from the EU member states and the Nordics. 
IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said the IMF Executive 
Board would review Iceland's application on November 19. 
 
VAN VOORST