Arctic Ocean Conference

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.Office The meeting was significant because of its plans for environmental regulation, maritime security, mineral exploration, polar oil oversight, and transportation.{{cite news|first=Randy|last=Boswell|title=Conference could mark start of Arctic power struggle|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=d0135cd8-c15a-48a3-9579-0df5f8e185c1|publisher=canada.com|date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-06-06}} Before the conclusion of the conference, the attendees announced the Ilulissat Declaration.Embassy

The conference was the first ever held at the ministerial level that included the five regional powers, the Arctic five.{{cite news|author=The Citizen|title=Summit seeks accord on Arctic sovereignty|url=http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=1,1,22&type=top&File=080528173125.j8mktzrk.xml|publisher=citizen.co.za|date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-06-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911022037/http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=1%2C1%2C22|archive-date=2009-09-11}} 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."RIGZONE

Ilulissat's melting glacier was an appropriate backdrop for the landmark conference.{{cite news|first=Randy|last=Boswell|title=NORTH - Melting glacier looming over Arctic Ocean summit; UN World Heritage Site playing host to meeting over vaunted oil riches|url=http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/govrel/news.cfm?story=78868|publisher=University of Alberta|date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-06-06}}{{dead link|date=July 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

The key ministry level attendees were:

Canada: Gary Lunn, Minister for Nature Resources of CanadaLawrence (Harper received criticism in his country for not sending a ministry-level delegate.)
Denmark: Per Stig Møller, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark; Hans Enoksen, Premier of Greenland
Norway: Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway
Russia: Sergey Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of RussiaNorden772-29-05-2008
United States: John D. Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State

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 {{sic}} the responsibility of the five coastal states of the Arctic Ocean."Sikunews

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."Somby

Notes

References

{{cite web|author=Arctic Counsel|url=http://arctic-council.org/article/2008/5/conference_on_the_arctic_ocean|title=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|accessdate=2008-06-06|date=2008-05-26|publisher=Article Council|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820072237/http://arctic-council.org/article/2008/5/conference_on_the_arctic_ocean|archive-date=2008-08-20}}
{{cite news|first=Randy|last=Boswell|title=Danes remind Canada Hans Island is part of Greenland, Kingdom of Denmark on eve of meeting|url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=62585fa4-8d05-4415-9a54-10d35f570047|publisher=canada.com|date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529141858/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=62585fa4-8d05-4415-9a54-10d35f570047|archive-date= 29 May 2008|url-status=live}}
{{cite news|author=Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ottawa|title=THE ILULISSAT DECLARATION, ARCTIC OCEAN CONFERENCE|url=http://www.ambottawa.um.dk/en/servicemenu/News/THEILULISSATDECLARATIONARCTICOCEANCONFERENCE.htm|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark|date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-06-06}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
{{cite news|first=Daina|last=Lawrence|title=Harper government under fire|url=http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20080604134811/wire/national-news/harper-government-under-fire-for-flip-attitude-to-food-summit-in-rome.html|publisher=princegeorgecitizen.com |date=2008-06-04 |accessdate=2008-06-06}}{{dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
{{cite news|author=Norden|title=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.|url=http://www.norden.org/en/news-and-events/news/arctic-summit-in-greenland/?searchterm=Arctic%20Summit%20in%20Greenland|publisher=norden.org|accessdate=2008-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829033403/http://www.norden.org/en/news-and-events/news/arctic-summit-in-greenland?searchterm=Arctic%20Summit%20in%20Greenland|archive-date=2012-08-29|url-status=dead}}
{{cite news|author=Office of the Spokesman|title=United States Participation in Arctic Ocean Conference|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/may/105114.htm|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=2008-05-21|accessdate=2008-06-06}}
{{cite news|author=Rigzone|title=Kingdom of Denmark to Hold Arctic Ocean Conference for Foreign Governments|url=http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=62339|publisher=rigzone.com|date=2008-05-27|accessdate=2008-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607143534/http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=62339|archive-date=7 June 2011|url-status=dead}}
{{cite news|author=Sikunews|title=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.|url=http://www.sikunews.com/art.html?catid=2&artid=4905|publisher=sikunews.com|date=2008-05-21|accessdate=2008-06-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722184305/http://www.sikunews.com/News/International/Finland%2C-Sweden%2C-Iceland-left-out-4790|archive-date=2012-07-22}}
{{cite news|first=Liv Inger|last=Somby|title=GREENLAND: Arctic Powers Duel for Energy Wealth|url=http://www.galdu.org/web/index.php?&odas=2833&giella1=eng|publisher=galdu.org|date=2008-05-29|accessdate=2008-06-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720013859/http://www.galdu.org/web/index.php?&odas=2833&giella1=eng|archive-date=2011-07-20}}
{{cite press release|title=Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov Attends the Arctic Ocean Conference, Ilulissat|date=2008-05-28 |url=http://www.ln.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/f68cd37b84711611c3256f6d00541094/5c8368eb09df03cbc3257458004c5c6a?OpenDocument|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation|accessdate=2008-06-06 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614160936/http://www.ln.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/f68cd37b84711611c3256f6d00541094/5c8368eb09df03cbc3257458004c5c6a?OpenDocument|archive-date=2011-06-14}}

External links

[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24859796/displaymode/1176/ Photo]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
[http://uk.nanoq.gl/Emner/News/News_from_Parliament/2008/05/~/media/2D155968C13F48E1B9A55E153E593A3F.ashx Enoksen's speech opening the conference]
[http://www.norja.fi/policy/environment/polar/ProtectingtheArctic.htm Støre' speech at the conference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212080136/http://www.norja.fi/policy/environment/polar/ProtectingtheArctic.htm |date=12 December 2008 }}

Category:Climate change conferences

Category:Foreign relations of Canada

Category:Foreign relations of Denmark

Category:Foreign relations of Greenland

Category:Foreign relations of Norway

Category:Foreign relations of the United States

Category:Multilateral relations of Russia

Category:Governance of the Arctic

Category:2008 in the environment

Category:2008 in Greenland

Category:21st-century diplomatic conferences

Category:Diplomatic conferences in Greenland