At the weekend could the Danish media Finance tell about a previously unknown meeting between the American rich man and Trump supporter Ronald Lauder and the mayor of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq Avaaraq Olsen (IA).
Ronald Lauder is particularly interesting, as he has been described by several media as the man who originally gave Donald Trump the idea that the US should buy Greenland.
At the weekend could the Danish media Finance tell about a previously unknown meeting between the American rich man and Trump supporter Ronald Lauder and the mayor of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq Avaaraq Olsen (IA).
Ronald Lauder is particularly interesting, as he has been described by several media as the man who originally gave Donald Trump the idea that the US should buy Greenland.
According to Finance, the meeting between the mayor and Ronald Louder took place in Nuuk, and in addition to the mayor and Lauder, municipal director Ole Jakobsen and Lauder’s business partner Josette Sheeran were also present.
– Part of the mayor’s job
Sermitsiaq has asked Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq about an interview about the matter with Mayor Avaaraq Olsen. It is not possible as the mayor has gone on leave due to illness in the family.
However, the municipality has sent a written reply, and it says that it was a courtesy visit, which is part of the mayor’s work.
According to the municipality, these types of meetings are a natural part of the mayor’s work to represent the municipality and be in contact with the outside world:
“Following on from press coverage of a meeting between the mayor of Nuuk and the American businessman Ronald Lauder, it can be stated that the meeting was a short courtesy visit lasting approximately half an hour,” writes the municipality and continues:
“The meeting took place on the basis of a request for dialogue, in line with the general practice of the mayor’s calendar.”
– Meetings do not imply adherence to views
The municipality emphasizes in its response that meetings of this nature are informal and do not involve the handling of specific political matters or decision-making, and therefore no minutes are kept.
Sermitsiaq has asked in writing what the mayor thinks about Ronald Lauder being described as the person who gave Donald Trump the idea to buy Greenland, as well as whether the mayor has any reservations about meeting a person with these intentions?
The municipality responds to this:
“It must be pointed out that a meeting does not in itself imply endorsement of the views or interests that the visitor represents. The municipality’s decisions are made on an informed basis and within the applicable democratic framework.”
Has invested in Greenlandic companies
Ronald Lauder has not only held meetings in Greenland. He has also invested in, among other things, the company Greenland Waterbank via a company together with Josette Sheeran, who also attended the meeting in Nuuk.
Co-owner of the company Jørgen Wæver Johansen has previously denied that the American investors should be a problem in light of Trump’s pressure to take over Greenland.
– I think that someone is trying to create a story out of nothing here. We are a small water company that has long since found some business partners. You just have to remember that many large Danish companies also have American owners, stated Jørgen Wæver Johansen to Sermitsiaq back in December.
