Arctic Ocean Conference

The inaugural Arctic Ocean Conference was held in Ilulissat, Greenland May 27 — May 29, 2008. Five countries, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States, discussed key issues relating to the Arctic Ocean. The meeting was significant because of its plans for environmental regulation, maritime security, mineral exploration, polar oil oversight, and transportation. Before the conclusion of the conference, the attendees announced the Ilulissat Declaration.

The conference was the first ever held at the ministerial level that included the five regional powers. It came at the invitation of Per Stig Møller, Denmark's Foreign Minister, and Hans Enoksen, Greenlandic 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." "We need to send a common political signal to both our own populations and the rest of the world that the five coastal states will address the opportunities and challenges in a responsible manner."

Ilulissat's melting glacier was an appropriate backdrop for the landmark conference. The key ministry level attendees were:

• Canada: Gary Lunn, Canadian Minister for Nature Resources
• Denmark: Per Stig Møller; Hans Enoksen
• Norway: Jonas Gahr Støre, Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Russia: Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 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 the 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."

The reaction by Aqqaluk Lynge, a Greenlandic politician and former president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, was concern that indigenous peoples of the Arctic are being "marginalised". "Inuit have their own definition of sovereignty."

See also

• Arctic Council
• Arctic Cooperation and Politics

References

• Arctic Counsel (2008-05-26). "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". arctic-council.org. Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
• Boswell, Randy (2008-05-28). "Danes remind Canada Hans Island is part of Denmark on eve of meeting". canada.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
• Embassy of Denmark, Ottawa (2008-05-28). "THE ILULISSAT DECLARATION, ARCTIC OCEAN CONFERENCE". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
• Lawrence, Daina (2008-06-04). "Harper government under fire". princegeorgecitizen.com. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
• Norden. "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". norden.org. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
• Office of the Spokesman (2008-05-21). "United States Participation in Arctic Ocean Conference". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
• Rigzone (2008-05-27). "Denmark to Hold Arctic Ocean Conference for Foreign Governments". rigzone.com. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
• Sikunews (2008-05-21). "Finland, Sweden, Iceland left out: Denmark stands by its decision to invite only five of the eight Arctic nations to an international meeting next week in Ilulissat, Greenland". sikunews.com. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
• Somby, Liv Inger (2008-05-29). "GREENLAND: Arctic Powers Duel for Energy Wealth". galdu.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
• "Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov Attends the Arctic Ocean Conference, Ilulissat" (Press release). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 2008-05-28. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

• Photo
• Enoksen's speech opening the conference
• Støre' speech at the conference