As one of the smallest capitals in the world, it is a great honor for us to receive a former president of the United States of America, accompanied by one of the most important UN officials in history.
Though our country may be small and our number of inhabitants low, Tórshavn is a modern city offering all the facilities any contemporary metropolis might boast.
Tórshavn is the center of the Faroe Islands and this is where the first settlers convened a thing, an assembly, well over 1000 years ago. Today this assembly, called Løgtingið, is the Faroese Parliament and it still meets in Tórshavn. I am proud to say that it is considered the world’s oldest parliament.
Tórshavn is administered by a politically elected city council. This council, like other democratically elected bodies, is divided into a majority and a minority, reflecting our citizens’ will and the possibilities for political agreements. There are 13 members on the Tórshavn city council, which is currently governed by a seven-member two-party coalition confronting a six-member two-party opposition.
Tórshavn is a modern city; its infrastructure is highly developed and it offers everything required for both leisure and work.
The municipality has an extensive network of harbor complexes, located in Tórshavn and the villages belonging to the municipality. We are currently expanding at Oyrareingir by Kollafjørður in the North, and right across the same fjord the longest landing quay in the country was recently finished.
We have several industrial areas in the municipality and more are underway. Expansions are taking place particularly in and around the capital Tórshavn. However, the peripheral areas of the municipality are also being developed.
All common sports disciplines enjoy good installations in our municipality, which has a lot to offer its citizens in terms of social services and facilities, ranging from day nurseries to old people’s homes and everything in between.
Furthermore, extensive projects are underway in the school sector. Existing schools are being expanded and refurbished and large-scale constructions are taking place in Hoyvík, while a new school is planned at Argir.
Tórshavn constantly strives to be a forerunner for national development.
As the mayor of the capital of the Faroe Islands I am pleased to show you a modern city, capable of facing up to any challenge, anytime.
I hereby wish both of you distinguished guests a very warm welcome to Tórshavn.
Heðin Mortensen, Mayor of the Municipality of Tórshavn
