Greenland gains control of the police force, coast guard, and courts.
And a new financial arrangement with Denmark comes into play, with the first 75 million kroner (US$13.1 million) of resource revenues going to Greenland, and the remaining revenue split evenly with Denmark.
Celebrations took place throughout Greenland on June 19, 20 and June 21.
At the Multihall in Nuuk, musicians played 1970`s and 80s music, the nationalistic songs by Piitsukkut, on the evening of June 20.
Shortly before midnight, Greenland's new Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist made a speech, telling everyone that they had helped achieve self-governance.
At midnight somebody held up a Danish flag. Later on, it was removed and only Greenland flag hung at the "Ice cool" concert.
The next morning, Denmark's Queen Margrethe and her husband, Prince Henrik, were strongly applauded as they walked in Inuit traditional costume to a church that overlooks the port for a service of commemoration.
The queen then handed over the decree setting out the Greenland government's new powers to the head of the local parliament, the Landsting.
Kleist said in a speech: "This morning we awoke with new hope in our heart.
"From today we are starting a new era in the history of our country, a new era full of hope and possibilities."
He added that "other countries have obtained self-determination often through making a lot of sacrifices," but Greenland has secured it "through dialogue, mutual comprehension and reciprocal respect" with Denmark.
Later, Kleist said self-government demands that Greenland "open up and establish cooperation with as many partners as possible".
He said longstanding relations with Washington, which has an air base on the territory in Thule, may have been problematic at times but an agreement signed in 2004 settled these issues.
"With regard to the United States, we have renewed our agreement with Denmark, Greenland and the USA, which is a very positive agreement, not only on the presence of the US military in Greenland -- Thule Air Base -- but also with regard to trade, education and other areas," he said at a news conference.
"We will be looking into the possibility of developing this agreement."
He said talks with Washington would likely be resumed within two or three months.
Greenland is "a global actor, notably in the debate about global warming", he said
The message from the Speaker of the parliament, Josef Tuusi Motzfeldt of the Inuit Ataqatigiit Party, in Greenland's parliament as he accepted the new self-governance act June 21 was as follows:
Your Majesty,
Your Royal Highnesses
Mr. Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker of the Danish Parliament
Inatsisartut Members of Parliament
Naalakkersuisut Members of the Cabinet
Honored guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Greenlandic people, Inatsisartut the Members of Parliament and Naalakkersuisut the Members of the Cabinet I want to warmly thank all of our guests for participating in the celebrations of the inauguration of the Self Government. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the former Commission on Self Government and the Danish Government for their effort and cooperation.
The historic, economic, as well as social ties with Denmark is deeply rooted, we have a 300 year common history. We are also united by bonds of family and friendship. The warm feelings the royal family has, and often express, toward the Greenlandic people is fully reciprocated. It is always a joy when members of the royal family visit Greenland. The Self Government will unfold within the framework of the Realm. This framework has been expanded with the Self Government Law, which has been a Greenlandic desire for a long time.
Now 30 years has passed since Greenland embarked upon the journey which was launched with the introduction of Home Rule. There was no line ahead to follow, no stars on the polar night with which to navigate, we were as a people to embark upon unknown frontiers fraught with possibilities and dangers, and the responsibility for our own destiny given to us by the Home Rule Government Law..
The Home Rule Government has matured the Greenlandic people to take on the responsibility of developing Greenland. In this historic and joyful day, we can all in unison gaze back with joy and pride and watch the results obtained through the Home Rule era. It has also been tough times, since the huge upheaval the Greenlandic society and the people have undergone during the Home Rule years, hasnt been without pain and difficulty.
But the possibilities for having an influence and staking out the direction of our own destiny simultaneously unleashed a commitment among the people to the affairs of the Greenlandic society, and created advance in economic and cultural matters. The Home Rule Government has strengthened the awareness of our cultural heritage, language and history, which today is vibrant and flourishing.
Your Majesty, when you 30 years ago, on May 1st 1979, presented the Greenlandic people the Home Rule law, you included several remarks in your speech. Among other things, Your Majesty said that a country should be built upon law.
This ancient truth was also the motto upon which the foundation of the development of the Home Rule. was laid. Likewise, the Self Government Law will be the judicial foundation and bearing in which the people will further build on the future of our children.
The Greenlandic people enlisted their support of the Self Government Law through the Referendum, with a predominant majority of the population supporting the law. The Self Government that we are celebrating is therefore a symbol of the dreams of the Greenlandic people and its wishes for their own existence and the future of the country.
Through the Self Government law we have achieved many decisive results, among them a formal recognition of us as a distinct people, and our language and culture, likewise, we have achieved the right of control of our subsoil, we expect in the years to come that this will be a supplement to lay the foundation for an economically independent Greenland. .
Realizing the possibilities and potentials of the Self Government requires human and economic courage, perseverance and solidarity especially. I am in no doubt that the Greenlandic people fully are able to pull together to realize this task.
We now stand before the conclusion of a historic epoch in the Greenlandic history, and we are able to discern the contours of the future at hand. The Self Government is not only a question of law and formalities, but is also the desire to formulate visions and conceive thoughts concerning a new and better future.
Our common vision and goal during the Self Government should be the realization of a society where everyone is needed and everyone gets an opportunity to realize their full potential. Through determination and strength we will, in unison, build a society which includes all, and where every citizen together with other citizens shares both rights and duties.
The purpose of the Self Government should also ensure that the Greenlandic society through a continued economical and cultural development gains greater economic and political autonomy. This goal should be gradually realized through educating the population and in their dialogue with the decision-makers continually participate in the Self Government process. The dialogue and the decisions should be open to all, thus ensuring the population participates in creating one common future.
Dear Kalaallit Nunaat, dear Fellow Countrymen, a heartfelt congratulations with the Self Government. This day is the day of a new beginning in history. This new era still requires work from all of us, women, children, young and old. Whatever we are unable to manage alone, requires a collective effort.
Storms will emerge, we will run into steep mountain walls and sometimes we will tread on thin ice.
Lets us give each other a hand shake in promising that we will work harder. Let us take each other by the hands and promise to take care, not only of ourselves, but of each other.
As a part of the World Community we will strive to gain a better future for our planet. This day and age requires unity rather than confrontation.
The future is fraught with possibilities. What we reap out of the possibilities is merely dependent of our creativity, courage and enthusiasm.
With Self Government we will still participate in ensuring human rights, peace, security and development.
The Self Government will emphasize on: Respect, credibility, recognition of diversity, vigour, courage for new thinking and comprehensive thinking.
The Self Government is a society where the Greenlandic society, language and culture are internationally recognized. It should be strengthened and rendered visible in such a way that it creates self respect in the society and respect from the surrounding world.
We shall stand firm on the fact that tolerance is not a weakness and intolerance is not a strength.
With Self Government we will create the dream and continue to develop fellowship and solve the tasks at hand. We will exert an effort that Kalaallit Nunaat with its population continues to be characterized as a generous nation, with an eagerness of its population to tackle varied and complex challenges.
We are, and will always be an open society. We shall create frameworks for all, oblivious of origin to be given the possibility to be integrated and rooted in the Greenlandic society to the benefit for all.
We shall ensure that in the Greenlandic society, a culture is still encountered which to all times will stand as an example of human doggedness, force and beauty.
In conclusion I want to wish you all a good National Day and ask you to say three cheers for the Self Government together with me.
To Self Government: Hurrah Hurrah Hurrah.
FOR A COMPLETE SLIDESHOW OF CELEBRATIONS AROUND GREENLAND GO TO:http://sermitsiaq.gl/galleri/article87418.ece
