Grønlandsudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling)
GRU Alm.del Bilag 42
Offentligt
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U.S./
Greenland/Denmark Joint Committee
10th Annual Meeting – October 7, 2014
Washington, D.C.
Factsheet
Representatives of the three parties met on October 7, 2014, in Washington,
D.C. The 11
th
meeting of the Committee will be hosted by Denmark in 2015.
The Parties approved the 2014 Annual Report/Inventory of Projects and
Other Collaboration. It is now available on the U.S. Embassy website at
http://denmark.usembassy.gov/gl/jc/ar.html.
A translation into
Greenlandic is pending and will be posted as soon as possible.
All parties acknowledged the importance of the work outlined in that report
and the great potential for expanding collaboration in the future. The parties
reviewed progress under the Language and Education Working Group, the
Science Working Group, and the informal Economic Working Group.
The Language and Education Working Group highlighted
the participation of
two young Greenlanders in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors
Leadership Program in the areas of small business development and women and
entrepreneurship.
The group also noted that the U.S. Embassy’s English
language training program, now in its final year, could potentially be
redirected toward building English language skills in support of Nuuk
hosting the Arctic Winter Games in 2016.
The Science Working Group highlighted its work to build on collaboration
with the ever-growing international science community working in
Greenland and to expand internship and training opportunities for students
from Greenland. Denmark’s new Forum for Arctic Science will identify
challenges and opportunities in Arctic Research and lead to more efficient
use of limited resources. The parties approved by consensus a new
telemedicine initiative, “The Arctic Transatlantic Telehealth Research
Network,” intended to improve services to Greenlanders who receive care
through the Pipaluk telemedicine system.
The informal Economic Working Group, established during the 2013 annual
meeting, reported U.S. publication of an Investment Climate Statement and a
Country Commercial Guide for Greenland intended to encourage greater
awareness among the U.S. private sector of opportunities in Greenland. The
 GRU, Alm.del - 2014-15 (1. samling) - Bilag 42: Referatet fra mødet i Joint Committee den 7. oktober 2014, fra udenrigsministeren
Danish delegation reported that Denmark’s Ministry of Business and Growth
will soon publish a report on attracting investment to Greenland.
The U.S. delegation proposed coordination of a “Direct Line for Business” call,
a conference call giving interested American companies a cost-effective
opportunity to discuss doing business in Greenland with the U.S. Ambassador
in Copenhagen, Greenland’s Representative in United States, and the
Greenlandic private sector.
In light of the expanding activities within the informal Economic Working
Group, the parties agreed to formalize collaboration on economic
development and trade under an Economic Working Group with Greenland’s
representative in Washington DC serving as the chair. Each delegation will
appoint a member to this group.
Greenland’s newly opened Representation Office in Washington, DC,
reported that it is quickly building a network of contacts and has plans to
expand staffing as budgets allow. Top priorities for the Representation are
currently promoting economic development possibilities, political issues
pertaining to Greenland-US as well as Arctic issues and promoting greater
bilateral relations in general
The U.S. delegation introduced to the parties to the U.S. Embassy’s newly
created “Virtual Presence Post,” a website dedicated as a resource for the
people of Greenland. In the absence of a physical presence in Greenland, the
website offers content, with text in Greenlandic when possible, to explain the
U.S. relationship with Greenland, offer information on travel and study in the
United States, and invite participation and conversation. The Public Affairs
Section of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen maintains the website and very
much welcomes feedback and suggestions. The U.S. delegation
acknowledged the important role Embassy interns from Greenland have
played in creating this website.
The United States Senior Arctic Official briefed the parties on the goals and
themes of the upcoming U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Greeland
has shown interest in the areas of improving the living condtions of people in
the Arctic, economic issues water security and sanitation, and mental
wellness.
Regarding the possibility of mining for uranium in Greenland, the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) briefed the parties on types of
technical assistance it could offer. The Committee welcomed the NRC’s
continued willingness to provide training opportunities through its Foreign
Assignee Program. A current Foreign Assignee described the support he has
 GRU, Alm.del - 2014-15 (1. samling) - Bilag 42: Referatet fra mødet i Joint Committee den 7. oktober 2014, fra udenrigsministeren
received from the NRC and the benefits of participating in the program.
Under new initiatives, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Private Sector
Exchanges Robin Lerner of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs provided the parties with an overview of the J-1 visa
program, which designates, monitors, and partners with U.S. organizations to
administer the Exchange Visitor Program. These partners include U.S.
government agencies as well as American academic institutions, educational
and cultural organizations, and corporations. The Exchange Visitor Program
welcomes nearly 280,000 visitors each year from outside the United States
on cultural exchange programs ranging from au pairs to interns and camp
counselors to teachers. DAS Lerner’s office can work directly with the
government of Greenland to design a special J-1 visa initiative to meet
Greenland’s needs. Greenland’s delegation agreed to consider this
opportunity, and the U.S. delegation stands ready to facilitate contact with
DAS Lerner’s staff should Greenland wish to pursue this.
A representative of the State of Maine described the state’s growing trade
relationship with Greenland, highlighting the efforts of the Maine North
Atlantic Development Office, a public-private partnership, to further increase
this trade, promote cooperation in climate change research, and develop
cultural and educational ties with Greenland.
The North Atlantic Biocultural Organization (NABO) offered the parties
insight into research focused on understanding the impacts of climate change
on early settlements in Greenland. NABO proposed development of two new
field schools in Greenland near Igaliku and Nuuk. The organization is looking
for partnerships to pursue these schools.
Several events also took place on the margins of the annual meeting:
o
The Brookings Institution provided the parties with a briefing on their
recent policy papers related to China in Greenland and Arctic Offshore
Oil Governance.
o
The delegations received a briefing by the U.S. investment firm PT
Capital on what factors influence their investment decisions in the
Arctic.
o
Members of the Language and Education, Science, and Economic
Working Groups met with the National Science Foundation (NSF),
NASA, and the Smithsonian Institute to explore new areas of
collaboration, internship opportunities, and a renewed memorandum
of understanding between the NSF and the Government of Greenland.
Smithsonian Institute representatives, including the director of the
 GRU, Alm.del - 2014-15 (1. samling) - Bilag 42: Referatet fra mødet i Joint Committee den 7. oktober 2014, fra udenrigsministeren
Smithsonian’s Arctic Studies Center, offered several opportunities for
collaboration with Greenland, ranging from the Folklife Festival to
smaller programs, and look forward to feedback from the parties on
initiatives that fit Greenland’s priorities.