After a tumultuous today the chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), and naalakkersuisoq for foreign affairs, Múte B. Egede (IA), sit down for an interview with Sermitsiaq.
On behalf of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen has today signed an agreement on more security in Greenland with the USA and Denmark.
After a tumultuous today the chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), and naalakkersuisoq for foreign affairs, Múte B. Egede (IA), sit down for an interview with Sermitsiaq.
On behalf of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen has today signed an agreement on more security in Greenland with the USA and Denmark.
And to the question of whether the Greenlandic population can now breathe a sigh of relief, the chairman answers with a resounding yes.
Why?
– We have today signed an agreement which obligates all three countries on security, but which also obliges all three countries to respect each other as partners. Greenland’s right to self-determination is respected, the sovereignty and inviolability of the territory is respected and signed by the American president.
– So yes, the Greenlandic population can breathe much easier today, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Biggest victory and biggest concession
What do you think is the biggest victory in the agreement that has been concluded for Greenland?
– Remember, 56,000 people in a huge country have achieved a lot. Now we get the world’s most powerful power to blue-stamp a legally binding agreement that they recognize us as a people under international law. They recognize our right to self-determination. They recognize our special environment. They recognize the way of life of the Greenlandic people historically and the way we live today, says Múte B. Egede.
But what is the biggest concession Greenland has had to make in this agreement?
– I actually think that the agreement paper you can see now, and the signature we have put today, it is difficult to say what a definitive concession is. I think we have mutually come to an agreement that we all really like.
– But it also comes from the fact that we are in a world that is changing. We have a world where the security situation is changing a lot. It is a finding that we made from Greenland’s side years ago, that low voltage and absolutely no military presence in Greenland, so this is something that we will have to look at realistically. This agreement also reflects that, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Greenland is firmly committed to the Western alliance
The agreement states that, in the event of independence, Greenland undertakes to remain in NATO and continue the agreement just concluded, which will mean that Greenland must enter into a defense treaty with NATO instead of being covered through the Commonwealth.
But that doesn’t change anything, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
– I think we have been very clear in the mediation right from the start in all of this, that Greenland is firmly committed to the Western alliance and NATO.
He is supported by Múte B. Egede:
– We are part of the Western alliance yesterday, today and tomorrow.
– Whether we are part of the Commonwealth or not, says Naalakkersuisoq for foreign affairs.
New screening mechanisms
The agreement states that only investors who are states or investors from a state that is a member of NATO, a NATO partner or is an EU member state can have significant influence within so-called “sensitive” sectors.
Asked about this, Múte B. Egede replies that there will be some screening mechanisms that will apply. Naalakkersuisut presents a screening bill at this fall meeting.
But do you run the risk of missing out on investments?
– It just reflects a natural development that you see out in the world. In Denmark, they also make screening mechanisms. Our other NATO allies and NATO countries are doing the same.
– We have some dynamics in the world now, where as allies you have to cover yourself. We have put our eggs in the basket they have always been in, and there they will stay. Today with much more security than yesterday, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
– I am very relieved
Sermitsiaq ends the interview by asking how Jens-Frederik Nielsen is feeling now, after the massive pressure that has been put on him since he took over as chairman of Naalakkersuisut.
– First of all, I would like to say that we politicians could never stand in this if we did not have such talented people around us. They have a very, very, very big stake in us having the agreement we have today.
– I am very relieved, and I am very proud of these people and of my colleague Múte, and I am proud on behalf of our population at home, who today can breathe a sigh of relief and look into a future that is not uncertain, he says.
