Canada, Denmark to be civil about Hans
UNITED NATIONS •
The foreign ministers of Canada and Denmark stood firm yesterday behind their governments’ claims to tiny Hans Island in the Arctic but announced after a meeting that bureaucrats would begin talks to try to resolve the dispute.
Canada’s Pierre Pettigrew and Denmark’s Per Stig Moller issued a joint statement saying they had agreed to inform one another in advance of any visits made by their respective countries to the uninhabited patch of rock, which lies between Canada and Danishcontrolled Greenland.
But in separate news conferences, each said there had been no compromise over ownership.
“Hans Island is part of the Canadian territory. I have made that very clear this morning, as we have for many years,” Mr. Pettigrew said after meeting Mr. Moller on the margins of the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly.
Mr. Moller took a tougher line, saying Denmark still intends to send Danes to the island.
“ Let me emphasize that this arrangement does not in any way entail any limitations to, or weakening of, Denmark’s and Greenland’s claim to Hans Island,” he said. “We will continue to make routine inspections of the area.”
Canadian and Danish bureaucrats will study maps and other documents accrued since a 1973 treaty between the two countries settled sovereignty over the waters surrounding the island.
But Mr. Pettigrew said the talks could be lengthy and will produce only recommendations.
“This is not a binding process,” he said.
The ministers emphasized they intend to demonstrate this over their handling of the Hans Island standoff.
“ While we pursue these efforts, we have decided that, without prejudice to our respective legal claims, we will inform each other of activities related to Hans Island,” their statement said.
Denmark raised its flag over the island in 1984, 1988 and 2004, sparking protests from Canada.
But the latest war of words was spurred by then foreign minister Bill Graham, who made an unannounced stop there during a trip to the Arctic in July.