Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

[Byzantine Prince]

CNN - link

Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

Monday, July 25, 2005 Posted: 1236 GMT (2036 HKT)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Denmark said Monday that it will send a letter of protest to Canada over a government minister's visit to a wind-swept Arctic island off northwestern Greenland that is claimed by both countries.

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham set foot on the 1.3-square-kilometer (1/2-square-mile) Hans Island on Friday, saying his country has always regarded it as Canadian territory.

Denmark also claims the island, roughly 1,100 kilometers (682 miles) south of the North Pole.

"We will hand over a note to Canada in which we will express our viewpoint," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Peter Taksoe-Jensen. "Hans Island is our island."

Officials at the Canadian Embassy in Copenhagen declined to comment.

In 1973, Canada and Denmark drew a border down the inhospitable Nares Strait halfway between Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory, and Canada's Ellesmere Island.

But the countries decided that sovereignty over Hans Island and others in the Arctic region would be determined later.

Denmark and Canada maintain good relations despite occasional spats over the island, which can be reached only by boat during mild summers when the ice around it melts.

In 1984, Tom Hoeyem, who was Denmark's minister for Greenland affairs, caused a stir when he raised a Danish flag on the island, buried a bottle of brandy at the base of the flag pole and left a note saying "Welcome to the Danish island."

Danish navy ships visited in the island in 2002 and 2003.

Canadian soldiers came to Hans Island before Graham's visit and raised a Canadian flag.

So war it is then?

PS. Is it ok with the publisher of the article if I reposted in quotations the article here?

I don't know. I am hoping Ser Clegane can tell me.

[sharrukin]

It's time for Canada to mobilize!

And let's not forget the Canadian Rangers either. Denmark has insulted our honour for the last time!

Where is this place anyway?

[PanzerJaeger]

Cat Fight!!

[IrishMike]

Is a 1/2-square-mile island really that important that people would actually spend the energy getting angry about it? I mean what in gods name could actually be on this thing that people would even wanna claim. Seems like they would wanna get rid of the little thing.

[sharrukin]

Is a 1/2-square-mile island really that important that people would actually spend the energy getting angry about it?

It's our 1/2-square-mile island and if it's not important they can just hand it over and stop burying brandy on it!

[Byzantine Prince]

Well, considering their size as a country and our size as a military force, it's a kitten fight. Cute, but not so entertaining.

And to answer your question ColdKnight, yes IT IS IMPORTANT. If we allow other countries to take our territory then that's a breach on our sovereignty, and a sign of weakness.

BTW, this place is inbetween Ellesmere Island and Greenland.

[IrishMike]

Oh, So its kinda like a naval port thing type important? Also about the image part, I really don't think anyone would view either country as weak over loosing this island. Now if canada lost newfoundland, or denmark lost greenland, that might be different. But who knows, their are some strange people out there.

[discovery1]

I say the two countries selected their greatest warriors and have them fight to the death to see who controls it.

[PanzerJaeger]

And to answer your question ColdKnight, yes IT IS IMPORTANT. If we allow other countries to take our territory then that's a breach on our sovereignty, and a sign of weakness.

Youre Canada for Christ sakes! Its not like you've got a reputation to uphold..

[King of Atlantis]

How about a compromise. One side gets the island, the other gets some beer.

[sharrukin]

Youre Canada for Christ sakes! Its not like you've got a reputation to uphold..

Canada's recent history may be pathetic but we do (or rather our fathers do) have a reputation to uphold.

However this tiny little island is not my idea of a Casus Belli, unless the Danes attempt to take it by force (they never would). More likely we will refer it to an international court to decide.

[Sigurd]

If our brothers ask, we will join the hærtokt, fight skrælingene and reclaim our Vinland.

[Ronin]

gentleman....let´s get ready to ruuuuuuuuuummble!!!


this reminds me of the one between spain and morocco last year about that tiny island in the gibraltar straight......it´s a tiny piece of rock....who cares?

[el_slapper]

gentleman....let´s get ready to ruuuuuuuuuummble!!!


this reminds me of the one between spain and morocco last year about that tiny island in the gibraltar straight......it´s a tiny piece of rock....who cares?

Diplomats care because it's an opportunity for them to show their usefulness. Let's sit & enjoy the show

[Al Khalifah]

Britain would naturally have to be on Canada's side in this as a fellow Commonwealth nation and for all the assistance Canada has given to Britian in past wars.

[AntiochusIII]

Hmm...what kind of life force lives on the island, anyway? Are there even humans there? Or just some seals, or even mosses...or...just blocks of lifeless ice?

[I was planning to rally the support of Greenpeace to the country that gives the better offer on protecting life (or, if there is none, ice) with the best environmental law codes they can write]

[Sjakihata]

If our brothers ask, we will join the hærtokt, fight skrælingene and reclaim our Vinland.

I'm sure that Denmark will twist this one for our better, a snatch that little island away from the big ugly doggy. The kitten shail prevail - and Im pleased that you would join our hærtogt my viking brother

[CBR]

Seems Canada cant take a hint

We Danes are of course just protecting Greenland's natural rights for the island while Canada's evil government tries to use the island to cover up for their domestic problems


CBR

[drone]

Of course the Canadians want the island. The Danes have been burying brandy on it!

[BDC]

Woohoo, WW3 over a little, ice-locked, rocky island. Which will vanish under-water when all the nukes melt the polar ice caps anyway. Got to love politicians.

[Proletariat]

Although I probably have a stronger sense of pride (in a very loose sense) for the Anglosphere than for America alone, I say we flip the script on this one and back Denmark.


Fight! Fight! Fight! *flicks the room's light switch while chanting*

[KukriKhan]

Is it ok with the publisher of the article if I reposted in quotations the article here?

I don't know. I am hoping Ser Clegane can tell me. -BP

Here's the deal: there is this claiment at the bottom of the article:
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Under 'fair use' policy, you may quote the material IF you also give attribution, for example, start your post with:

"This is an AP article I found at CNN.com (link)"
quote: blah, blah, blah, blah enquote.

[Ianofsmeg16]

gentleman....let´s get ready to ruuuuuuuuuummble!!!


this reminds me of the one between spain and morocco last year about that tiny island in the gibraltar straight......it´s a tiny piece of rock....who cares?

It reminds me of Gibralter itself.....its a british colony, british people live there and it recognzed QEII as the head of state, but its Spanish of course
joking

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

ever been to Gibraltar?
It's a dump.
If it weren't for its strategic position (and the British citizens there who want it to remain British) I'd demand that it were returned to Spain.

Oh yeah, Go Denmark!

[Ianofsmeg16]

i always thought it looked quite nice....like an english village with a spanish climate

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

I remember a lot of concrete nastiness.
It's the joys of cramming 30,000 people, a military base and a town onto a small bit of land.

It's not like any English village I've been to.

[Byzantine Prince]

Hmm...what kind of life force lives on the island, anyway? Are there even humans there? Or just some seals, or even mosses...or...just blocks of lifeless ice?

Well even worse. It's not only small, lifeless, cold, strategically useless, brandyless , but also if someone would be living there, it would be considered the second most northern esttelment on the planet. The first being the post of Alert on Ellesmere island.

Seems Canada cant take a hint

We Danes are of course just protecting Greenland's natural rights for the island while Canada's evil government tries to use the island to cover up for their domestic problems

Canada's Liberal government is evil now? We saved your behinds in WWII.

[Ianofsmeg16]

I remember a lot of concrete nastiness.

RAF Brize Norton, and the surorunding town of Carterton, everything except the 30,00 people

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

good one

[UglyandHasty]

Lets invade Denmark !


Canadian Forces troops raise the Maple Leaf on Hans Island on July 13, 2005. (CP Photo/DND/Cpl David McCord)