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Western EuropeApril 2 2006

Cool in the face of crisis

On his visit to London last month, Iceland’s prime minister flew into a firestorm as concerns grew over the sharp decline of the krona. But Halldór Ásgrímsson is a man not easily ruffled, as Courtney Fingar found out.
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In the lobby bar of his Knightsbridge hotel at the end of what must have been a long day, Halldór Ásgrímsson, Iceland’s prime minister, looks tired but his bright blue eyes have retained their glint. Mr Ásgrímsson is in London to meet his UK counterpart, Tony Blair, and outposts of Icelandic companies in the UK.

Despite the sudden concerns over the Icelandic currency and warnings its economy was overheating, he remains calm and cool. “I am not particularly worried,” he shrugs.

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