This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/456067-iceland-president-russian-language-arctic/

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iceland president’s Russian skills a show-stopper at Arctic forum (VIDEO) Iceland president’s Russian skills a show-stopper at Arctic forum (VIDEO)
(about 4 hours later)
The president of Iceland got a long round of applause at the International Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg as he addressed the guests in good Russian to underline the value of friendship.The president of Iceland got a long round of applause at the International Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg as he addressed the guests in good Russian to underline the value of friendship.
“I don’t speak good Russian. Please excuse me,” Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson said as he took the stage. But he was just being modest, as his speech impressed the native speakers with near-perfect grammar and decent pronunciation.“I don’t speak good Russian. Please excuse me,” Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson said as he took the stage. But he was just being modest, as his speech impressed the native speakers with near-perfect grammar and decent pronunciation.
“I studied [Russian] many years ago. I’ve forgotten almost everything. But this is what I remember and can say – and that’s what I want to say."“I studied [Russian] many years ago. I’ve forgotten almost everything. But this is what I remember and can say – and that’s what I want to say."
The applause Johannesson got from the high-ranked guests was long and sincere. The applause Johannesson got from the high-ranking guests was long and sincere.
The 50-year-old had an impressive academic career before being elected president of Iceland in 2016. He worked and studied in several universities at home, in Germany and the UK, getting a PhD in history from Queen Mary University of London in 2003. The 50-year-old had an impressive academic career before being elected president of Iceland in 2016. He worked and studied in several universities at home, in Germany, and the UK, getting a PhD in history from Queen Mary University of London in 2003.
Among the things Johannesson studied during those years was Russian, and he obviously wasn't phoning it in.Among the things Johannesson studied during those years was Russian, and he obviously wasn't phoning it in.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!