July 6, 2007
Greenland looks to the future
A call for more power, money and control over natural resources are among recommendations by Greenland's self-government working group to the Danish-Greenlandic self-rule commission.
The commission is looking at how to boost Greenland's autonomy.
The working group presented its recommendations on self-government at a commission meeting in Tasiilaq last week, reports the Greenland weekly Sermitsiaq.
The commission unanimously approved the working group's recommendations, which say:
- Greenland is a nation with the right to self-determination and the Greenlandic people can make a decision about possible independence from Denmark;
- Greenlandic is the official language of Greenland;
- Greenland should have ownership over its underground natural resources, with all revenues from resource development in Greenland going to the Greenland government;
- Half the revenues from resource development over DKK 75 million (about $5 million) should be deducted from Greenland's annual block funding grant from Denmark.
In September, the commission will present its full proposal for an expanded self-government for Greenland, whose home rule government has existed since 1978
