Hans IslandCanada and Denmark are neighbours in the North, allies in NATO and the UN working closely together for peace and democracy in challenging spots like Afghanistan, the Middle East and Sudan. Indeed close friends in relations across the board. Canadians of Danish origin are numerous. Cultural and commercial exchanges flourish between us.
In the North the inuit populations of Greenland and Canada have communicated during centuries. Their oral languages are nearly identical. In order to emphasise the relationship and facilitate even closer cooperation in the future Denmark is in the final phase of opening an honorary consulate in Iqaluit, making Denmark the first country to be represented on the spot in Nunavut.
As in every real substantive friendship there are also tiny irritants like the territorial belonging of Hans Island. Issues to be dealt with deftly to strengthen the friendship.
The Government of Denmark considers Hans Island to be a part of Danish territory. This will be of no surprise to readers of the Ottawa Citizen or to others following occasional developments in this case of disputed sovereignty.
It is generally accepted that Hans Island was first discovered in 1853 on an expedition done in agreement with the Danish authorities with the participation of the famous Greenlander Hans Hendrik of Fiskenæsset. His place in the expedition earned Hans Hendrik of Fiskenæsset a place in the history of exploration and the island was named after him - “Hans Ø” (Hans Island).
Since then it has been our view that the island, by virtue of its belonging to Greenland, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Relevant evidence in connection with defining the area of Greenland, such as geological and geomorphological evidence, clearly supports this point of view.
In 1933, when the Permanent Court of International Justice declared the legal status of Greenland in favour of Denmark, the Court did inter alia refer to the note from the British Government, acting on behalf of Canada, which in 1920 assured the Danish Government that it recognized Danish sovereignty over Greenland.
Therefore, when Canada in 1971 during negotiations with Denmark on the maritime boundary between Greenland and Canada laid claim to the territory of Hans Island it was the first time the Government of Denmark was officially informed about this. We did not reach an agreement at the time and since then our two Governments have agreed to disagree.
In order to settle the dispute in a mutually acceptable way, the Danish Government has repeatedly declared its willingness to reassume consultations with the Government of Canada at an appropriate time. This invitation is still very much open. In the view of the Danish Government, Canada and Denmark have every reason to pursue an already fruitful cooperation on Arctic matters and we should not let the issue of Hans Island become a stumble stone in this process.
Let me give you a recent example of cooperation in the North.
A unique cooperation project between Canada and Denmark was launched as late as June this year. In Ottawa a memorandum was signed between Canada and Denmark to work together on collecting data needed for the redrawing of the Continental Shelf line in the Artic Ocean north of Ellesmere Island and Greenland. Both Denmark and Canada have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and that gives us the right to make claims beyond 200 nautical miles of new land and under water resources in that area.
Now, we could have decided that due to the sensitivities involved we would do this work individually. Instead we have adopted a much more constructive approach – joint operation. We will share equipment, manpower, and knowledge and save time and money. And when the time comes to file our individual claims, hopefully we will be much better equipped to divide the land and sea according to each country’s wishes.
Denmark appreciates that the larger issue of sovereignty in the North is a real concern to Canada. Greenland, and thus the Kingdom of Denmark is also a part of the North. Denmark is not intruding in the area. We are only trying to protect what we believe to be part of our Kingdom. We recognize that Hans Island is claimed by Canada as well. That there is a genuine dispute.
Nobody has an interest in letting such an issue sour our warm relations. That is why we suggest, as we have done in the past, that we turn to dialogue and the rule of law, as we generally do. We look forward to working with Canada on this issue.
Poul E. D. Kristensen
Ambassador of Denmark
