Consensus achieved in the joint Danish/Greenlandic uranium...

Consensus achieved in the joint Danish/Greenlandic uranium working group01.10.2013In the Naalakkersuisuts Coalition basis, it emerged that zero-tolerance principle must be lifted, and that this should be done with regard to human health, nature and the environment. There is, in this context, presented a draft resolution for adoption at Inatsisartuts autumn collection relating to a lifting of the zero-tolerance policy.In order to ensure the best possible lighting of the consequences of commencement of mining and export of uranium by a lifting of the zero-tolerance policy was a Danish/Greenlandic working group in spring 2013. The Working Group's aim has been to review the international obligations and guidelines that apply to the mining and export of uranium, other countries ' experience, existing Danish and Greenlandic legislation and regulation and an assessment of the Authority's tasks and resource moves that can be expected to follow with the mining and export of uranium.There is over the weekend in the absence of agreement within the Working Group about the sum total content of the report. The vast majority of the report is now a concrete explanation of the consequences of a total lifting of the zero-tolerance policy. The report, however, also contains some sections where Greenland and Denmark disagree with the legal interpretation on jurisdiction issues, particularly on the foreign policy competence.Although the mining and export of uranium may have foreign, defence and security implications, then Greenland at the same time, the legislative and executive power in the area of raw materials. There are from Danish side not been questioned the competence of mining area of Greenland, and in the same way, Greenland nor questioned Denmark's competences concerning security and defence policy issues. It is on competence issues at the General foreign policy which is not related to defence and security policy, that there has been a different legal assessment between Denmark and Greenland. There are of Denmark and Greenland since the spring of 2013 was drawn up a number of legal notes relating to this topic, which will be attached to the joint report as an annex.The joint report turns now that these outstanding issues can and should be solved in a future-oriented cooperation and that, in this context, to be concluded a cooperation agreement on future cooperation in this area.In the Danish Prime Minister's opening speech in Parliament today, Prime Minister stresses importance of Greenland and Denmark together here have found a solution which opens up an independent Greenlandic attitude toward the issue of the abolition of zero tolerance.Aleqa Hammond says:"Denmark and Greenland have over the past few months worked closely in connection with the proposals put forward to Inatsisartutbeslutning repealing" zero-tolerance "against mining of uranium and other radioactive substances.I am pleased that we now have a good and thorough review of international obligations and guidelines that apply to the mining and export of uranium, other countries ' experience, existing Danish and Greenlandic legislation and regulation and an assessment of the Authority's tasks and resource moves that can be expected to follow with the mining and export of uranium, in a joint Danish/Greenlandic report.The report is a good basis for a further fact-finding work to take place after Inatsisartut has adopted a position for the lifting of the zero-tolerance, also relating to health, nature and the environment, as well as the preparation of a specific cooperation agreement between the Danish and Greenland authorities in this area.I would like to acknowledge the excellent cooperation which has taken place between Denmark and Greenland. We now have a good starting point for further work together. "It has been agreed that the joint report presented to the foreign policy Committee in Denmark and to the Committee on raw materials and foreign and security policy Committee in Greenland, as soon as it is available in both languages. It is expected to report after the following shall be published when the relevant Boards and committees have been informed.