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.

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The Third Joint Committee
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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."

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Outside Partners
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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.

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Positive Press Play
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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.

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Next Steps
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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