THIRD JOINT COMMITTEE DELIVERS TRANSFORMED

UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000790 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SENV DA GL SUBJECT: THIRD JOINT COMMITTEE DELIVERS TRANSFORMED U.S.-GREENLAND RELATIONSHIP ¶1. Summary. The two-day U.S./Denmark/Greenland Joint Committee meetings successfully wrapped up May 31 with all parties satisfied with the progress made in the key working groups: trade and tourism; environment; science; and education and culture. Greenland and Danish press covered the closing plenary, marking a healthy transformation of the U.S.-Greenland relationship since the 2004 agreement that paved the way for the missile defense radar upgrade. The hallmark of this meeting was the introduction of potential private sector partners into the mix, with Air Greenland briefing on its proposed air route from BWI and Alcoa accepting the committee's invitation to explore possibilities for locating a major new smelting operation in Greenland. The progress made by the working groups consolidates Greenlandic and Danish support for our missile defense efforts at Thule Air Base. The next Joint Committee meeting will be held in Greenland in 2007, with working group meetings throughout the year. End Summary. -------------- The Third Joint Committee -------------- ¶2. Over 60 officials from the USG, Danish and Greenland Home Rule governments participated in the May 30-31 Joint Committee meeting at Eigtveds Pakhus, Copenhagen. Ambassador Cain led a large U.S. delegation with representatives from State, Commerce, Defense, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the New York Air National Guard (109th),as well as Embassy officials. MFA PermSec Ulrik Federspiel opened the event by lauding the U.S. commitment to and the progress made in broadening and deepening U.S. relations with Greenland since the signing of the Igaliku agreements on August 6, 2004. Then Secretary of State Powell signed the Igaliku agreements that created the Joint Committee, paving the way for the missile defense-related radar upgrade at Thule Air Base in northwestern Greenland. ¶3. All four working groups reported progress in enhancing cooperation between the United States in Greenland and establishing goals for the year ahead. Some of the significant developments in the working groups include the following: Trade and Tourism - USDel provided background information and invited the Home Rule government to begin discussion on a reciprocal tax exemption agreement in the aviation sector. USDel also provided regulatory details that Greenland must fulfill in order to export musk ox and reindeer to the United States. Environment - USDel and GreenlandDel are working towards concluding a sister park relationship between the Cape Krusenstern National Monument in Alaska and the Ilulissat World Heritage Park area. Greenland is reviewing its domestic environmental regulations and will seek U.S. advice in the coming year on best available technologies for waste management and the provision of clean water. Science, Health, and Technology - An MOU between the USGS, the Home Rule's Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum, and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland concerning energy and scientific cooperation was signed. Greenland health officials will conduct a study tour of Alaska's telemedicine network. Education and Culture - The USG will place an English Language Fellow at the In-Service Training Institute in Nuuk from August 2006 to June 2007. A formal U.S.-funded partnership has been established between the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum in the U.S. and the Greenland National Museum and Archives. ¶4. In their opening and closing remarks, both Ambassador Birger Riis-Jorgensen, head of the Danish delegation, and Home Rule Administrative Director Kaj Kleist, head of the Greenland delegation, praised the progress made in the Joint Committee since it first met October 5-6, 2004, in Nuuk and again May 18-20, 2005, in Washington, DC. Ambassador Cain similarly praised the broad cooperative agenda of the Joint Committee and noted that through such work, "The friendship between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland is ever stronger." -------------- Outside Partners -------------- ¶5. The third meeting of the Joint Committee invited the participation of potential academic and private sector partners. Dr. Prasad Gogineni briefed the science working group on the ongoing work in Greenland of the Center for the Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) based at the University of Kansas. Three executives of the American aluminum firm Alcoa briefed their potential interest in locating a major new smelting operation, and as may be necessary, assisting in the development of the necessary hydropower. They accepted the Committee's invitation to visit Greenland for further discussions. Air Greenland CEO Flemming Knudsen briefed the Joint Committee on the airline's plans to operate a new air route between Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Airport and Kangerlussuaq Airport starting in May 2007. -------------- Positive Press Play -------------- ¶6. The third Joint Committee generated significant positive press coverage from Greenland's media. Greenland Radio (KNR) headlined its reporting with the lead-in "Joint Committee Delivers" and filed a concluding report with the headline "Joint Committee Makes Surprising Progress." KNR focused on Alcoa's exploratory interest in Greenland, the MOU facilitating cooperation among geological experts, and Greenland's interest in exporting musk ox and reindeer. Greenland weekly Sermitsiaq published on June 1 a series of articles highlighting the concrete progress made through the Joint Committee under the headline "Important Results." Sermitsiaq also focused its attention on Alcoa, the USGS MOU, as well as Greenland's efforts to attract American tourists. Greenland's media quote heavily from Ambassador Cain's and the other two delegation heads' statements outlining the success achieved to date. -------------- Next Steps -------------- ¶7. All four working groups will foster inter-sessional work related to specific projects and programs and conduct periodic meetings or teleconferences. There is an overall Joint Committee DVC planned for the first week of December to assess progress. Greenland delegation head Kaj Kleist announced at the closing that Greenland plans to host the next Joint Committee meeting in Ilulissat. The fourth Joint Committee meeting is likely to take place in May 2007 and will probably coincide with one of the initial (and perhaps inaugural) flights from BWI to Kangarlussuaq. CAIN