SEPTEMBER 19, 2005, NEW YORK

We, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Pierre S. Pettigrew, andthe Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Per Stig Møller, met today, September19, 2005, in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, toreaffirm our excellent, long-standing bilateral relations as friends, allies and Arcticneighbours. The Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs was accompanied by the DeputyPremier of Greenland, Josef Motzfeldt. Mr. Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament forthe Yukon, accompanied Minister Pettigrew.Together, we reviewed many of the issues which will be addressed at thisGeneral Assembly and on which we are close partners, including climate change,effective multilateralism, transatlantic relations, counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, andthe Middle East. We also took note of the upcoming 60thanniversary this Decemberof the establishment of our diplomatic relations.We have much in common, and we have worked together over manyyears in advancing the welfare of the Arctic region and its peoples. Through theArctic Council and other means, we already collaborate closely on challenges facingthe Arctic and the North, such as climate change, resource extraction and transport.We also expressed our satisfaction at the recent launch of our joint project to map theseabed of the Arctic Ocean.We acknowledge that we hold very different views on the question ofthe sovereignty of Hans Island. This is a territorial dispute which has persisted sincethe early 1970s, when agreement was reached on the maritime boundary betweenCanada and Greenland. We underscore that this issue relates only to the island assuch, and has no impact on that agreement.Firmly committed as we are to the peaceful resolution of disputes,including territorial disputes, we consistently support this principle here at the UnitedNations, and around the world. To this end, we will continue our efforts to reach along-term solution to the Hans Island dispute. Our officials will meet again in thenear future to discuss ways to resolve the matter, and will report back to Ministers ontheir progress.

While we pursue these efforts, we have decided that, without prejudice to ourrespective legal claims, we will inform each other of activities related to Hans Island.Likewise, all contact by either side with Hans Island will be carried out in a low keyand restrained manner.We will continue to pursue our common goal of ensuring the sustainabledevelopment of the Arctic region to the benefit of all, and in the tradition ofcooperation in the region between our scientists we will explore the feasibility ofjoint scientific projects on or in the area of Hans Island. Such projects might fallwithin the research being planned in the context of the International Polar Year 2007-08.

JOINT STATEMENT

SEPTEMBER 19, 2005, NEW YORK