Klik her for at se PDF'en - Air Greenland
Klik her for at se PDF'en - Air Greenland
Klik her for at se PDF'en - Air Greenland
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Suluk # 04 2008<br />
NAMMINERSORNERULLUTIK OQARTUSSAT · GRØNLANDS HJEMMESTYRE<br />
Dear Travellers<br />
A warm welcome to our beloved Kalaallit Nuna<strong>at</strong><br />
- <strong>Greenland</strong>.<br />
<strong>Greenland</strong> is a magnifi cent country who<strong>se</strong> beauty<br />
can take your bre<strong>at</strong>h away, even <strong>for</strong> us who have<br />
lived <strong>her</strong>e all our lives. N<strong>at</strong>ure lords over our lives<br />
and t<strong>her</strong>e<strong>for</strong>e we always respect <strong>her</strong> moods and<br />
whims, no m<strong>at</strong>ter w<strong>her</strong>e we are. She can be merciless,<br />
even after the briefest moment of carelessness<br />
– as we have learnt to our cost through<br />
gener<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
In recent years, <strong>Greenland</strong> has <strong>se</strong>en clear signs<br />
of clim<strong>at</strong>e change, with melting ice and extreme<br />
chang es in the we<strong>at</strong><strong>her</strong>. T<strong>her</strong>e<strong>for</strong>e <strong>Greenland</strong><br />
will work relentlessly to meet <strong>her</strong> environmental<br />
oblig<strong>at</strong>ions and to intensify the u<strong>se</strong> of renewable<br />
energy such as hydro power.<br />
We must safeguard n<strong>at</strong>ure and the environment,<br />
but <strong>at</strong> the same time we have to strengthen our<br />
economy - and the<strong>se</strong> two goals don’t have to<br />
confl ict with each ot<strong>her</strong>.<br />
<strong>Greenland</strong> is the land of minerals and in recent<br />
years we have <strong>se</strong>en an almost explosive interest<br />
in our wealth of different minerals and hydrocarbons.<br />
We expect to <strong>se</strong>e the opening of fi ve mines<br />
over the next fi ve years. The<strong>se</strong> will extract gold,<br />
diamonds, rubies and ot<strong>her</strong> minerals. Furt<strong>her</strong>more,<br />
never be<strong>for</strong>e have we issued so many explor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
licen<strong>se</strong>s to intern<strong>at</strong>ional oil companies <strong>se</strong>arching<br />
<strong>for</strong> oil and n<strong>at</strong>ural gas in <strong>se</strong>veral extremely promising<br />
areas. In future years it is possible th<strong>at</strong> mining<br />
will overtake fi shing as <strong>Greenland</strong>’s most important<br />
source of revenue.<br />
42<br />
But all the<strong>se</strong> activities share <strong>Greenland</strong>’s stringent<br />
environment requirements <strong>for</strong> mining company<br />
activities.<br />
Politically, <strong>Greenland</strong> is entering a very interesting<br />
period. We are in the process of making the public<br />
administr<strong>at</strong>ion more effi cient, and in practice this<br />
means th<strong>at</strong> 18 municipalities will be merged into<br />
four large municipalities with gre<strong>at</strong>er competences.<br />
The goal is not only to make municipalities<br />
more effi cient, but also to strengthen local democracy.<br />
A referendum is planned <strong>for</strong> the end of November<br />
this year on the introduction of Self-Governance in<br />
<strong>Greenland</strong>. Several years of work lie ahead <strong>for</strong> the<br />
<strong>Greenland</strong>-Danish Self-Governance Commission,<br />
which will include a Bill <strong>for</strong> <strong>Greenland</strong> Self-Governance<br />
as well as a framework <strong>for</strong> how <strong>Greenland</strong>’s<br />
economy can be developed. If the people of<br />
<strong>Greenland</strong> want the new enhanced type of political<br />
system as a replacement <strong>for</strong> the old Home Rule<br />
system, it will be introduced in 2009.<br />
As you can <strong>se</strong>e the people of <strong>Greenland</strong> are facing<br />
gre<strong>at</strong> challenges. T<strong>her</strong>e<strong>for</strong>e it is also important<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the people are strengthened with more educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
initi<strong>at</strong>ives and enhanced social ef<strong>for</strong>ts. The<strong>se</strong><br />
points are high on the <strong>Greenland</strong> Government’s<br />
agenda.<br />
Have a nice trip!<br />
Hans Enok<strong>se</strong>n<br />
Premier of the <strong>Greenland</strong> Government<br />
www.ag.gl • www.arc-pic.com