Össur Skarphéðinsson
Encyclopedia
Össur Skarphéðinsson is an Iceland
ic politician who has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since February 2009.
Össur matriculated from the Reykjavík Grammar School
in 1973, and gained a BS in Biology from the University of Iceland
in 1979, and a doctorate in physiology
from the University of East Anglia
in 1983. He has been a member of the parliament (Althing
) since 1991, as Member for Reykjavík
Constituency from 1991 to 2003 and Member for Reykjavík North Constituency since 2003. He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party
parliamentary group from 1991 to 1993, Minister for the Environment from 1993 to 1995, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance from 2000 to 2005.
Össur was appointed Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism for the Social Democratic Alliance in May 2007. He was also Minister for Nordic Cooperation
from 24 May 2007 to 10 June 2008. In February 2009 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Össur has been noted for being a prominent blogger, often quoted by the Icelandic press.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic politician who has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since February 2009.
Össur matriculated from the Reykjavík Grammar School
Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík
Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík is the oldest gymnasium in Reykjavík, Iceland....
in 1973, and gained a BS in Biology from the University of Iceland
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about...
in 1979, and a doctorate in physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
from the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
in 1983. He has been a member of the parliament (Althing
Althing
The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant...
) since 1991, as Member for Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
Constituency from 1991 to 2003 and Member for Reykjavík North Constituency since 2003. He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Iceland)
The Social Democratic Party was an Icelandic Political Party based on social-democratic ideas. It was founded in 1916 as the political representation of the trade unions of Iceland....
parliamentary group from 1991 to 1993, Minister for the Environment from 1993 to 1995, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance from 2000 to 2005.
Össur was appointed Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism for the Social Democratic Alliance in May 2007. He was also Minister for Nordic Cooperation
Minister for Nordic Cooperation (Iceland)
Iceland's Minister for Nordic Cooperation is a cabinet minister who takes on this role in addition to his or her departmental responsibilities. Since 1 February 2009 the minister has been Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir, who combines the role with her duties as Minister for the Environment.The Minister for...
from 24 May 2007 to 10 June 2008. In February 2009 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Össur has been noted for being a prominent blogger, often quoted by the Icelandic press.