VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCP #0790/01 1570922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 060922Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2438
INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUDKSR/EUCOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ AFSPC PETERSON AFB CO PRIORITY

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