Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COPENHAGEN404
2009-09-18 14:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR VISITS GREENLAND

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM MARR SENV SCUL DA GL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCP #0404/01 2611434
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181434Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5184
INFO RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 2565
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP-ISA-EUR// PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000404 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB, OES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MARR SENV SCUL DA GL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS GREENLAND

Classified By: Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; 1.4 (b, d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000404

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB, OES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MARR SENV SCUL DA GL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS GREENLAND

Classified By: Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; 1.4 (b, d)


1. (U) This cable contains an action request; please see
paragraph 15.


2. (C) SUMMARY: Official Greenland warmly welcomed
Ambassador Fulton on her first visit to the capital Nuuk,
August 20-22, and the GOD sent a senior delegation to
accompany her to Thule Air Base September 7-9. Greenland
Self-Rule Premier Kleist sought agreement to conduct a
five-year review of the (US-Denmark-Greenland) Joint
Committee, called the Joint Committee "beneficial" but hoped
for more (especially in education),enthusiastically
supported the idea of a U.S. seasonal post in Nuuk, and asked
for help bringing closure to the story that some plutonium
may have been lost in a 1968 B-52 crash. Later, the Danish
Health Minister promised the Ambassador advance summaries of
upcoming research findings into possible contamination from
that crash. END SUMMARY.

(U) PREMIER KUUPIK KLEIST
--------------


3. (C) Official Greenland warmly welcomed Ambassador
Fulton's first visit August 20-22, to the capital Nuuk (pop.
16,000). Premier Kuupik Kleist hosted a meeting, a dinner
and a boat-tour of the fjord. He began his meeting with the
Ambassador by requesting any help the USG could give to
provide "a decent closure" to the "old case" of the USAF B-52
carrying nuclear bombs that crashed off Greenland in 1968.
He regretted that the issue had been revived (due to a BBC
report last fall) and raised in the Danish Parliament. He
sought no confrontation, but only wished to "calm and inform"
his people. The Danish Institute for International Studies
(DIIS) had recently issued a report ruling out any missing
bomb, but leaving open at least one question, whether 1.5 kg.
of plutonium could be accounted for. If it were possible to
see the relevant U.S. documents without redaction, that might
put the matter to rest. The Ambassador noted that a formal
request would no doubt have to come through the Danish
Government via the U.S.-Denmark Permanent Committee, but

offered in the meantime to try to find out whether any
additional information was available that could help.


4. (C) On September 14, Denmark's Health Minister Jakob
Axel Nielsen promised the Ambassador advance summaries of two
upcoming research reports relevant to the B-52 crash:

- a study in progress searching for soil and air
contamination; report due in early 2010. The Minister was
confident that no atmospheric contamination would be found;
he said that was the only kind of contamination that could
pose a health issue;

- a study that has not yet begun, that will explore
Greenlanders' health.


5. (C) Kleist was "happy" with the (US-Denmark-Greenland)
Permanent Committee, but worried about "rumors" the U.S.
might close Thule airbase. On the Joint Committee, he sought
agreement to conduct a review now that it is five years old.
The Joint Committee "has been beneficial to Greenland,"
especially the "very strong scientific cooperation"; "let's
see what has worked and what hasn't." His priority is
education: it is "the key to prosperity and development" but
faces many challenges due to demographics (tiny, widely
scattered settlements in a harsh environment). He said he
would like to see the parties to the Joint Committee "work on
budgets instead of projects." The Ambassador replied that
she was keen to understand the Greenland education system and
how we can help, especially by facilitating exchanges and
exploiting internet-based technology. Kleist praised the
concept of a U.S. seasonal post in the Greenland capital of
Nuuk as a "brilliant idea" that would "facilitate everything
else." He said that Greenland is becoming "the face of
climate change" and would be very active at and around
COP-15.

(U) FINANCE MINISTER PALLE CHRISTIANSEN
--------------


6. (C) Finance Minister Palle Christiansen described his
party, the Democrats, as very pro-U.S. and keen to improve
education so that Greenlanders will be open to the world, not
xenophobic nationalists. A dentist by profession,
Christiansen explained that his portfolio includes IT,
reform, and Nordic relations. While the prospect of
independence would mean Greenland had to pay its own bills,
right now the biggest challenge was "avoiding bankruptcy."
Ambitious plans to develop hydro-electric projects could
include exports of 30 terrawatts to North America - enough to
cover two percent of all U.S. electricity. The minister
wanted to establish an IT college so as to provide courses
from "any university in the world;" to that end, western
Greenland now had fast internet thanks to a sizeable
investment in a cable connection, while the east coast was
still dependent on a (much slower) satellite connection.
With regard to local development in Nuuk, he praised the new
municipal council's emphasis on strengthening education and
housing rather than big-ticket infrastructure projects.
Regarding the U.S. base at Thule, he had urged the base
commander to use Greenlandic companies as contractors for
construction and outer security. (NOTE: Greenlandic and
Danish companies already have preference for most
base-related activities under the terms of the 1951 Defense
Agreement and subsequent related agreements. END NOTE.)

(U) SPEAKER JOSEF MOTZFELDT
--------------


7. (C) Speaker of Parliament Josef Motzfeldt supported the
idea of a U.S. seasonal post in Nuuk, and noted that
Greenland may open an office in Washington to cover North
America. The priorities he mentioned were building ties with
youth, and making more use of tele-medicine. He mentioned an
upcoming visit by an American citizen named Tony Phillippi
from Minneapolis, who planned to come to Greenland September
13 with his own seaplane and fly up the west coast to Qaanaaq
(north of Thule) to see how he could help develop the
infrastructure.

(U) OPPOSITION LEADER ALEQA HAMMOND
--------------


8. (C) Aleqa Hammond, the first female opposition leader in
Greenland and first female chair of Siumut party (which held
power 1979-2009),expressed support for a U.S. seasonal post
and for the Joint Committee, while making clear she wanted
"more obligation, higher priority" from the U.S. With an eye
to independence in 20 years, she said her party would push
for the English and Danish languages to have equal standing
in schools. Raising the issue of CIA flights allegedly
transiting Greenland/Thule (based on a television program
from several months ago),she said it was important to be
"open so there are no ghosts in the closet."

(U) MINISTER OF INDUSTRY OVE BERTHELSEN
--------------


9. (C) Minister of Industry Ove Berthelsen (the only
official to speak in Greenlandic, using an interpreter)
relied on three staffers (all ethnic Danes) to present
briefings:

- The proposed Alcoa aluminum smelter could produce 360,000
tons per year starting in 2015-16. Two dedicated hydro-power
stations would be built, over 100 kms. away. Total
investment could exceed USD4 billion (i.e. double Greenland's
current GDP). The project would create over a thousand new
jobs and, in the construction phase, double the population of
Maniitsoq (2,750; located on the west coast between Sisimiut
and Nuuk). The Greenland Parliament is expected to decide in
October whether to pass the Hydro-Power Concession Act. A
decision on whether to take an equity stake in the Alcoa
smelter project is expected in spring 2010; Alcoa prefers a
50-50 split. (NOTE: Alcoa has expressed readiness to
explore a smaller Greenlandic stake, perhaps in conjunction
with a third investor. END NOTE.) The final decision is
expected in fall 2010; construction should take five years.

- Tourism is growing into a pillar of the economy, with about
50,000 visitors per year. Cruise-ships are the fastest
growing segment. Revenue is around 40 million DKK/year,
approx. one third in passenger head-tax and the rest on-shore
spending. With Alaska saturated, Greenland is becoming more
attractive as a destination; Greenland's focus on tourism is
on quality not quantity, thus the crowds from cruise ships
are seen as economically beneficial because they do not
require additional infrastructure like hotels.

- Natural resources: export of ice and bottled drinking
water could reach 30 to 60 million DKK in 2010. Greenland's
Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum currently has joint
responsibility with Denmark when it comes to licensing
exploration/exploitation of natural resources, but starting
in 2010 all revenue from oil, gas or minerals will go to
Greenland; half that revenue will be deducted from Denmark's
block grant to Greenland. (NOTE: With the Self-Governance
Agreement of June 2009, the block grant was frozen at 3.4
billion Danish Kroner per year, currently about USD 667
million. END NOTE.) Over 80 exploration licenses have been
granted so far this year (vice fewer than 20 in 2003). There
are two producing mines at present (gold, olivine) and two
more exploitation licenses have been issued (lead/zinc and
molybdenum). Other possibilities include zirconium, rubies,
iron, and diamonds. Environmental regulations are strict, in
compliance with all Arctic Council rules. Greenland seeks to
be competitive in the eyes of investors; for mineral
extraction projects, it has set its take at 37 percent
(Canada's is 50 percent). Oil and gas reserves are assessed
by the U.S. Geological Survey at 31 billion barrels of oil
equivalent, roughly half the size of the North Sea field,
though some of these potential deposits are located off the
icebound northeast coast and not accessible with current
drilling technology. Over 130,000 sq. km. are now licensed
for exploration or exploitation. Greenland is asking for a
government take of 59 percent, which would leave the investor
41 percent; Alaska leaves the investor less than 10 percent).

(U) GREENLANDIC EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION
--------------


10. (SBU) Greenlandic Employers Association Director Henrik
Leth explained that his organization represents about 400
companies ranging from 800 employees to one. Its three main
purposes are: services to members; lobbying; and negotiating
with unions every three years. Leth had been impressed by
the large turnout the previous day for a discussion of how
Greenland would have to adapt to the influx of large projects
such as Alcoa. He reckoned it would take 15-20 years before
Greenlanders could fill most of the Alcoa jobs (NOTE: Alcoa
executives dispute this assertion. END NOTE.). His
association opposed cost-sharing by the government, arguing
that Alcoa should pay its own way, but he stressed "we are
not against the project." Leth was worried that COP-15 might
lead to restrictions on growth of carbon dioxide emissions
that would make it impossible for Greenland to develop
economically (the Alcoa project alone would double
Greenland's CO2). He hoped Greenland and Denmark could reach
agreement before COP-15, but the GOD wanted to postpone
negotiations until after the conference.

(U) INSTITUTE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
--------------


11. (U) Institute of Natural Resources Director Klaus
Nygaard said the Institute's research has helped ensure that
most fish stocks are now being harvested sustainably. On
hunting, "we are a generation behind," but hunters are coming
to recognize the importance of sustainability. Soren
Rysgaard, professor at the Institute's new Climate Impact
Center, stressed that scieQific cooperation with Greenland
is very important to understanding global climate change.
Active cooperation exists with American and other scientists.
Since 1994, some 3,500 parameters are being measured, and it
is important to continue measuring in the same places in
order to understand changes. Latest research shows the
warming of the ice cap is accelerating. Some 150 scientists
of the cryosphere will gather in Nuuk next week.

(U) UNIVERSITY OF GREENLAND
--------------


12. (U) University of Greenland Rector Tine Pars described
tuition-free exchanges with Dartmouth and University of
Montana. She pressed for more tuition-free opportunities for
Greenlandic students to study in the United States. The U.S.
National Science Foundation is funding a study on sexual
habits in Greenland, and is considering sending an instructor
to teach at the University. The University of Greenland is
participating in "U Arctic," a web-based initiative of the
Arctic Council. At Pars' request, the Ambassador agreed to
see whether the USG can support the university's
participation in an annual seminar on Inuit culture,
involving U.S., Canada, Scotland and France.

(U) OTHER ENGAGEMENTS
--------------


13. (U) The Ambassador also:

- Met with Mayor Asii Chemnitz Narup who briefed on her
municipality of Sermersooq, which - due to reorganization
mandated by the previous Premier - is 15 times the size of
Denmark and incorporates five former municipalities, three on
the west coast including Nuuk, and two on the east coast.
She expressed strong support for exchanges with the U.S.
through visits and telecommunications.- Toured the cultural
center Katuaq (headed by Julia Pars, who is Tine's sister, an
artist, and board chair of Air Greenland). It has a 500-seat
auditorium and screens first releases as well as putting on
concerts and theater, and hosting conferences.

- Visited a class at the Greenland Business College, which
offers programs lasting from one to four years including
Bachelor of Commerce, has about 250 daytime students and had
approx. 700 students participate in at least one course last
year, of whom 90 percent completed successfully. The college
gets USD4 million (80 percent of its budget) from the
Greenland Home Rule Government. It has educational
agreements with Aalborg Business School in Denmark and
Jefferson Community and Technical College in Kentucky. It
offers e-learning with Skype and will soon administer the
TOEFL test (now, students have to go to Denmark to take it).

- Gave an interview to Sermitsiaq newspaper.

- Visited the 109th Air Wing of the New York Air National
Guard during a layover at Greenland's commercial air hub of
Kangerlussuaq. Lt Col Matt Leclair briefed on the 109th's
support to U.S. and international scientists studying the
Greenland ice cap every summer, using LC-130H transport
airplanes equipped with skis. Met Dorthe Dahl Jensen,
director of the Center for Ice and Climate at the Niels Bohr
Institute, Copenhagen University, who had just returned from
two months on the ice cap.


14. (U) The Ambassador visited Thule Air Base in
northwestern Greenland September 7-9, accompanied by DATT,
Air Attache, Pol-EconCouns, and a Danish delegation led by
Major General Peter Kuhnel, Chief of International
Operations, Defense Command. The delegation included: Rear
Admiral Henrik Kudsk, Commander, Greenland Command; Anne
Dannerfjord, Senior Advisor in the Prime Minister's Office;
Mikaela Engell, MFA Advisor on Greenland Affairs; and MOD
staff. Col Christopher Gentry and his Team Thule arranged a
program that highlighted outstanding partnership with the
Danes and excellent relations with local communities. The
GOD delegation made clear the importance Denmark attaches to
U.S. operations at Thule. All agreed that the recent
trilateral search-and-rescue exercise with Canada had shown
the partnership could perform search-and-rescue using Danish
ships and helicopters and the medical facility at Thule.


15. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: Department is requested to
advise whether there is any further information that could be
provided to bring closure to the B-52 issue, as per paragraph
3 above.
FULTON