Arctic Ocean Conference Explained
The inaugural Arctic Ocean Conference was held in Ilulissat (Greenland) on 27-29 May 2008. Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States discussed key issues relating to the Arctic Ocean.[1] The meeting was significant because of its plans for environmental regulation, maritime security, mineral exploration, polar oil oversight, and transportation.[2] Before the conclusion of the conference, the attendees announced the Ilulissat Declaration.[3]
The conference was the first ever held at the ministerial level that included the five regional powers, the Arctic five.[4] It came at the invitation of Per Stig Møller, Denmark's Foreign Minister, and Hans Enoksen, Greenlands Premier in 2007 after several territorial disputes in the Arctic. States Møller, "We must continue to fulfill our obligations in the Arctic area until the UN decides who will have the right to the sea and the resources in the region. We must agree on the rules and what to do if climate changes make more shipping possible."[5]
Ilulissat's melting glacier was an appropriate backdrop for the landmark conference.[6] The key ministry level attendees were:
Controversy
The inclusion of some members of the Arctic Council while excluding others (indigenous peoples, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) from the conference caused controversy.
Defending Denmark's decision to exclude certain council members, Thomas Winkler, head of Denmark's International Law Department stated, "This meeting in Ilulissat is not a competition to the Arctic Council. The issues that we're going to discuss will be issues that is the responsibility of the five coastal states of the Arctic Ocean."[10]
The reaction by Aqqaluk Lynge, a Greenlandic politician and former president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, was concerned that indigenous peoples of the Arctic are being "marginalized". "Inuit have their own definition of sovereignty."[11]
See also
References
- Web site: Arctic Counsel. Conference on the Arctic Ocean: The Danish Foreign Minister wants unity about the future of the Arctic Ocean. Outrageous attempts to make demands on the Arctic Ocean region should be a thing of the past. 2008-06-06. 2008-05-26. Article Council. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080820072237/http://arctic-council.org/article/2008/5/conference_on_the_arctic_ocean. 2008-08-20.
- News: Randy. Boswell. Danes remind Canada Hans Island is part of Greenland, Kingdom of Denmark on eve of meeting. canada.com. 2008-05-28. 2008-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20080529141858/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=62585fa4-8d05-4415-9a54-10d35f570047. 29 May 2008. live.
- News: Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ottawa. THE ILULISSAT DECLARATION, ARCTIC OCEAN CONFERENCE. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. 2008-05-28. 2008-06-06.
- News: Daina. Lawrence. Harper government under fire. princegeorgecitizen.com . 2008-06-04 . 2008-06-06.
- News: Norden. Arctic Summit in Greenland: Denmark, Greenland, Norway, Russia, Canada and the USA are holding a summit in Ilulissat, Greenland at the moment to discuss how best to resolve disagreements about rights to oil, etc. until the UN clarifies who actually owns what in the enormous Arctic Region. A UN pronouncement is not expected until 2020.. norden.org. 2008-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20120829033403/http://www.norden.org/en/news-and-events/news/arctic-summit-in-greenland?searchterm=Arctic%20Summit%20in%20Greenland. 2012-08-29. dead.
- News: Office of the Spokesman. United States Participation in Arctic Ocean Conference. U.S. Department of State. 2008-05-21. 2008-06-06.
- News: Rigzone. Kingdom of Denmark to Hold Arctic Ocean Conference for Foreign Governments. rigzone.com. 2008-05-27. 2008-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607143534/http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=62339. 7 June 2011. dead.
- News: Sikunews. Finland, Sweden, Iceland left out: The Kingdom of Denmark stands by its decision to invite only five of the eight Arctic nations to an international meeting next week in Ilulissat, Greenland.. sikunews.com. 2008-05-21. 2008-06-06. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722184305/http://www.sikunews.com/News/International/Finland%2C-Sweden%2C-Iceland-left-out-4790. 2012-07-22.
- News: Liv Inger. Somby. GREENLAND: Arctic Powers Duel for Energy Wealth. galdu.org. 2008-05-29. 2008-06-06. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720013859/http://www.galdu.org/web/index.php?&odas=2833&giella1=eng. 2011-07-20.
- Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov Attends the Arctic Ocean Conference, Ilulissat. 2008-05-28 . Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 2008-06-06 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110614160936/http://www.ln.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/f68cd37b84711611c3256f6d00541094/5c8368eb09df03cbc3257458004c5c6a?OpenDocument. 2011-06-14.
External links
Notes and References
- Office
- News: Randy. Boswell. Conference could mark start of Arctic power struggle. canada.com. 2008-05-28. 2008-06-06.
- Embassy
- News: The Citizen. Summit seeks accord on Arctic sovereignty. citizen.co.za. 2008-05-28. 2008-06-06. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090911022037/http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=1%2C1%2C22. 2009-09-11.
- RIGZONE
- News: Randy. Boswell. NORTH - Melting glacier looming over Arctic Ocean summit; UN World Heritage Site playing host to meeting over vaunted oil riches. University of Alberta. 2008-05-28. 2008-06-06.
- Lawrence (Harper received criticism in his country for not sending a ministry-level delegate.)
- Norden
- 772-29-05-2008
- Sikunews
- Somby
