ggg...appears selling has stopped, page-8

Greenland is close to decision?

There's a vote in November if that's what you're referring to or is it something to do with Kim Kielsen lobbying the locals?



Greenland readies for its own November vote
Greenland's prime minister has set a date for his countrymen to vote for more autonomy from Denmark



Political affairs are heating up in Greenland. Although the ice-covered nation is currently a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, that status might change in June 2009, if Greenland's prime minister, Hans Enoksen, has his way.

Enoksen has proposed holding a referendum on 25 November in which Greenlanders can vote to expand their level of self-rule, Berlingske Tidende newspaper reports.

If the proposed referendum passes, Enoksen suggested Greenlanders could celebrate their national day on 21 June 2009 with greater degree of autonomy. Enoksen and others argue that Greenland would then have more control over its vast oil and mineral reserves.

It would also gain more say in a number of important areas currently administered from Copenhagen, decreasing dependence on the DKK 3.5 billion (EUR 472 million) annual block grant sent from Denmark.

Full independence from Denmark would then be a realistic dream, proponents say.

A number of Greenland's politicians have cautioned against rushing the vote on more independence, however. Kuupik Kleist, the country's former representative in the Danish parliament, said he feared Greenlanders might not have enough time to understand and fully discuss the self-rule proposal.

Palle Christiansen, the political spokesperson of the Democrats, who are part of Greenland's opposition, also warned against hurrying the process, noting that 'self-rule brings with it more than just oil revenues.'

Christiansen cited the administration of judicial affairs as just one area which would incur major costs on the Greenlandic government.

In Denmark, reactions to Enoksen's push for greater self-rule have been limited partly because the joint Greenlandic-Danish Self-Rule Commission created to clarify issues of autonomy has been stalled since the general election held last November.

The Danish prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, announced on Tuesday, however, that the commission could continue with its current line-up, even though two members, Christian Mejdahl and Frank Jensen, left parliament after the election.

Jensen, who chairs the commission's working group on economic and business development, refused to comment directly on Enoksen's call for a referendum, but said he considered the proposal as a de facto deadline for the commission's work, which has been delayed particularly over the issue of oil revenue.

'It's a Greenlandic decision,' said Jensen. 'It puts pressure on the commission's members.'

The Copenhagen Post