Modern mapping technology has pinpointed a new wrinkle in Canada's dispute with Denmark over tiny Hans Island, reports CBC.
After reviewing the latest satellite imagery, federal officials in Canada say the international boundary line runs roughly through the middle of the island in Arctic waters, not east of the rocky outcrop as previously believed, memos obtained by the Canadian Press reveal.
It means the most up-to-date map endorsed by Ottawa no longer places Hans Island squarely in Canadian territory.
A draft December 2006 memo prepared by Natural Resources Canada says due to the "sensitivity related to sovereignty" the department had been reviewing all requests for topographic information related to Hans Island.
As a result, it was discovered that topographic maps originally used in 1967 to determine the island's co-ordinates are not as accurate as maps more recently compiled with newer satellite imagery, says the memo, obtained under the Access to Information Act.
The boundaries of the continental shelf between Ellesmere Island and Greenland were agreed upon in 1973. Given that Hans Island was under dispute, the shelf line was drawn up to a point south of the island and continued from a point north of it.
On the 1967 map, Hans Island was set at co-ordinates "clearly positioning the entire island in Canadian territory," the draft memo says.
However, the latest imagery places the island somewhat to the east, "which then puts the international boundary approximately in the middle of the Island."
In late January, then-deputy minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Harder confirmed in a letter to Natural Resources that the foreign ministry's legal adviser had been using the new co-ordinates.
Foreign Affairs had no immediate comment on the newly released documents.
The Danish Embassy in Ottawa had no comment Wednesday.
The draft memo, however, indicate the Danes are aware of the shift. "Recent negotiations with Denmark have taken into account this shared boundary on Hans Island."
Hans is ours to share!
The most up-to-date map endorsed by Ottawa no longer places Hans Island squarely in Canadian territory.
Published: 26.07.2007 22:48
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