On the picture Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker and the Prime Minister of Greenland Kim Kielsen.
By Baron Henri Estramant.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Kim Kielsen, visited Brussels on 20 March 2015 in order to ink a “Joint Declaration” on behalf of the islands’ self-government alongside Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and EU President Jean-Claude Juncker. Premier Kielsen wore a traditional Anorak to the signing ceremony which was confused with a simply hood by a plethora of EU observers.
The so-called Joint Declaration updates Greenland’s relations with the European Union whereto it does not belong although it is an entity of the Kingdom of Denmark. In fact, Greenland left the then EEC (European Economic Community) in 1985 (only “territory” thus far to do so) to which it had belonged since Denmark’s accession in 1973.
Amongst other matters the declaration touches upon the geopolitical importance of Greenland for Denmark, and the EU to access resources in the Arctic, financial aid, and the framework for political dialogue amongst the three parties.
After his visit to Brussels Greenlandic Premier Kielsen travelled to Japan to join the Danish Crown Princely Couple in a visit to promote Greenland in the Empire of the Rising Sun.
The Danish and Japanese monarchies are the two oldest monarchies in the world. The Danish Kingdom dates back more than 1000 years giving it the record as the oldest in Europe, whereas the Nipponese monarchy is the oldest in the world dating back to 660 BC.
Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Princess and Crown Princess of Denmark were accompanied from 26 to 28 March 2015 by the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dan Jørgensen, Premier of Greenland, Kim Kielsen, Greenlandic Minister for Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, Karl-Kristian Kruse as well as a trade delegation of Greenlandic companies.
The visit’s objective was meant to heighten awareness about Greenland, its culture and products in Japan, as well as to increase Japanese people’s knowledge about opportunities that lies in Greenland and the Arctic region. In 2014, Japan became a permanent observer in the Arctic Council.
The Crown Princely Couple moreover opened an exhibition, “Spiritual Greenland”, in Tokyo about Greenlandic culture wherein the Imperial Household of Japan was represented by Their Imperial Highnesses The Princess Takamado and her daughter Tsuguko of Takamado. Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Mary were also hosted in a luncheon at the Imperial Palace by Their Imperial Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan.
Greenland has a mission to the EU in Brussels that shares the building facilities with the Royal Danish Embassy to Belgium, the Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU and the Representation of the Faroe Islands to the EU. The island is an integral yet autonomous entity within the Danish Realm (rigsfællesskabet). Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Her government are represented vis-à-vis the Greenlandic government by a High Commissioner (Rigsombudsmand), the incumbent is Mikaela Engell, since 2011.
The Head of Mission is Minister Counsellor Lida Skifte Lennert. Besides the representation in Denmark, Greenland has another “mission” in Washington D.C. which opened on 24 September 2014, and is shares the edifice of the Royal Danish Embassy to the USA.
21 June is the yearly celebration of “Self-Government Day” in Greenland.
For more information:
Representation of Greenland to the EU:
Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of Denmark to the EU:
Opening of “Spiritual Greenland”:
http://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/video-kronprinsparret-paa-job-med-japanske-prinsesser
Programme for the promotional visit to Japan:
http://kongehuset.dk/english/Menu/news/programme-for-greenland-promotional-campaign-in-japan
