GREENLAND SEEKS TO CONDUCT MINERAL SURVEY AT THULE

UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000441 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EMIN DA GL SUBJECT: GREENLAND SEEKS TO CONDUCT MINERAL SURVEY AT THULE AB (U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (U) Action request: Please see paragraph 5. ¶2. (SBU) Summary. The MFA has relayed a request from Greenland Government's Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum for preliminary USG reaction toward its intent to issue a commercial license to conduct a mineral survey on land that borders on -- and also lies partly within -- the delineated perimeter of Thule Air Base. Initial reaction of the Danish MFA's Greenland desk is cautiously supportive, but they are interested whether there are any U.S. objections. The Greenland Government request is general in nature and lacks several important specifics, such as timeframe, nationality of the survey company, survey extent, and possible use of Thule AB itself as a support base. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) In a Danish MFA-initiated meeting held September 28, MFA Senior Advisor for Greenland Affairs Mikaela Engell and MFA Northern Europe Section Head Casper Jensen passed a copy of a Greenland Government written request for their assistance in obtaining USG reaction to a preliminary plan to authorize a commercial mineral survey of a 291-square kilometer area that lies adjacent to the southwest perimeter of Thule AB. At least one proposed survey plat crosses into the base area. (Note: MFA supplied three plat maps of the proposed survey area, apparently drafted by Greenland Government's Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum, as well as the original request letter to the Danish MFA; these are being electronically transmitted to EUR/NB. The request letter to the Danish MFA is dated February 5, 2009 -- when asked, MFA gave no explanation for the delay; and the issue had not been raised at the most recent Joint Committee meeting held May ¶2009. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) When asked for MFA's assessment of the request, Senior Advisor Engell said that from the information available, the request appeared reasonable. She noted, however, the preliminary and general nature of the request, and agreed that specifics would be required of the Greenland Government before a final determination could be made. Engell said that overall MFA policy is to support legitimate and reasonable requests by Greenland to determine its mineral resource potential. ¶5. (SBU) Action requested: Embassy requests Department guidance, particularly, what further information is needed to evaluate the issue. FULTON