Next on Greenland’s path to greater independence: 'Free Association'?
Greenland's constitutional relation to Denmark is strained. Greenland explores possibilities for a greater say in foreign, security and defense policy, while increased pressure from the current geopolitical freeze makes differences in interests between Copenhagen and Nuuk apparent and the need to coordinate urgent. And now, a Greenlandic draft constitution is unveiled.
In recent decades, discussions in Greenland about how to organize future sovereignty have increasingly returned to the concept of free association.
In 1960, the UN General Assembly identified three options for decolonisation: independence as a sovereign independent State, integration with another independent State, and Free Association with an independent State. Only five former colonies have opted for Free Association and each has a bespoke relationship with a former colonial power; Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Palau.
To understand what future course, Greenland might be setting itself on, DIIS in collaboration with Ilisimatusarfik/University of Greenland invites for a seminar in Nuuk, 24 May 2023, to discuss
- current experiences with free association in the pacific island states with this model of independence;
- the reasons why free association arrangements does not exist elsewhere, including in the North Atlantic;
- select aspects of international law pointing to dilemmas for Greenland in relation to free association.
Brief version of the academic analyses will be made available via diis.dk and uni.gl (in Greenlandic and English) in advance of the seminar. Greenlandic politicians, diplomats, NGOs, and intellectuals have been invited to discuss Greenlandic perspectives.
9:15 Welcome to Ilisimatusarfik - Gitte Reimer, Rector, Ilisimatusarfik.
Welcome to the seminar - Ulrik Pram Gad, DIIS
9:25 Session 1 Free Association in Greenland - why (not)?
(Chair: Jeppe Strandsbjerg, Nasiffik)
Keynote: Mininnguaq Kleist, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Business,Trade and Climate (in private capacity): Experiences with self-government and thoughts on FA
Qivioq Løvstrøm, Ilisimatusarfik: Why FA is discussed in Greenland in 2022 - and not in 1952?
Rasmus Leander Nielsen, Nasiffik: What Greenlandic politicians have wanted from FA
Discussant: Kaj Kleist, former Permanent Deputy Minister, Govt. of Greenland
10:25 Townhall
10:40 Coffee
11:00 Session 2 Pacific - and Puerto Rican - Parallels
(Chair: Maria Ackrén, Nasiffik)
Rens van Munster, DIIS: Marshall Islands: Between sovereignty and dependence
Miriam Cullen, University of Copenhagen: Climate resilience and the Cook Islands: FA with New Zealand
Rafael Cox-Alomar, University of the District of Columbia, USA: Greenland in mirror of Puerto Rico
Discussant: Kenneth Høegh, Govt. of Greenland’s representative in Washington DC
12:00 Townhall
12:45 Lunch
13:45 Session 3 Practical Precedents and Legal Tripwires
(Chair: Ulrik Pram Gad, DIIS)
Guđmunđur Alfredsson, emeritus (virtual presentation): A step in the decolonisation process: Free Association
Rachael Lorna Johnstone, Ilisimatusarfik (virtual presentation): FA and the United Nations
Sjúrđur Skaale, MP (JAV) (virtual presentation): Why the 2000 Faroese negotiations did not end up with FA
Discussant: Aqqaluk Lynge, former president of ICC
14:40 Townhall
15:00 Coffee
15:15 Session 4 Reflections
(Chair: Rasmus Leander Nielsen, Nasiffik)
Pele Broberg (Naleraq), MP and Party leader
MP (Demokraatit) (tbc)
15:30 Townhall
16:00 Round up: Rasmus Leander Nielsen / Ulrik Pram Gad
16:15 End
The seminar was held on 24 May 2023 at 09.00-16.15 in Pikialaarfik's auditorium in Nuuk. The seminar was organised in collaboration with lisimatusarfik/University of Greenland, Nasiffik Centre for Foreign & Security Policy.
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