The Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson was widely reported this week as having shocked senior diplomats at a luncheon in Reykjavik by lambasting Denmark, Sweden and particularly Britain for their lack of support in Iceland's deep economic crisis.

One report claimed that he had gone on to say that Iceland would have to find new friends and he had offered Russia the use of the Keflavik military base - an offer the Russian ambassador politely declined.

Denial
Appearing on Icelandic television, Grímsson denied having offered Keflavik to Russia: "it is neither part of my job nor in my power to make such an offer," Grímsson said according to Iceland Review.

Grímsson went on to say that he had honestly given his opinion about Britain and some of Iceland's Nordic neighbours.

“Perhaps I was to a certain extent in my conversation with the ambassadors reciting […] the perception that I feel the Icelandic nation has towards countries that have been our friends and allies through thick and thin,” he is reported as saying, adding that Iceland's perception of these countries had changed.

The Icelandic Foreign Minister Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir is reported as saying that while it is natural for the president to meet foreign diplomats, he should not meddle in her ministry's affairs.