NUUK, GREENLAND: Greenland's home rule government is up in arms over last week's visit to Hans Island by federal defence minister Bill Graham and wants the United Nations to intervene.
Hans Island is a barren lump of rock located between northern Ellesmere Island and Greenland, which is claimed by both Canada and Denmark.
Greenland's defence minister Josef Motzfeldt said he wasn't happy when heard Canadians refer to their visit to Hans Island as an "occupation."
"It's time that the case is taken to one or another forum for international settlement," Motzfeldt said.
Canada and Denmark paved the way for potential discord over Hans Island in 1973 when they drew a border that fell halfway Ellesmere Island and Greenland and agreed that sovereignty over Hans Island and other islands in the region would be determined later.
The conflict over who owns the island must go to the U.N., said Kuupik Kleist, who represents Greenland in the Danish Parliament.
Kleist believes Hans Island will someday belong to Greenland - but he's calling for a scientific examination ot the island to see which nation has claim to Hans Island and any nearby resources.
Hans Island's geology resembles that of Greenland, although Denmark's claim to Hans Island is based on their argument that the island is closer to Greenland than to Ellesmere.
Denmark plans to send an inspection ship next month on a visit to Hans Island.
As debate over the conflicting claims continued, Motzfeldt suggested that a concert of Greenlandic and Canadian musicians could also resolve the conflict over Hans Island as a "cilviiised way" to make peace.
Take Hans to the U.N., suggests Greenland
"It's time that the case is taken to one or another forum for international settlement"Josef Motzfeldt, Greenland's defence minister.
Or have a concert.
Or have a concert.
Published: 26.07.2005 18:09
