Madam, - As there are, perhaps, limits to the interest of your readers in the political past of Greenland, I would like to conclude the debate with Dermot Somers (July 5th):
1. Greenland was and still is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. However, contrary to the situation in 1951, the inhabitants of Greenland now very much have a say in their own affairs. Home rule was established in 1979, and since then the Greenland government has been rapidly expanding its area of responsibility.
2. This expansion has now reached the area of foreign policy. Thus the Greenland government was part of our negotiating team earlier this year when we reached an agreement with the US government on (a) renewing the 1951 agreement concerning the defence of Greenland; (b) an agreement on the environment; and (c) an agreement on economic and technical cooperation between Greenland and the US.
This set of agreements gives the green light for upgrading the radar at Thule as requested by the US government. I refer your readers to the press release of May 19th by the Greenland home rule.
3. I have been to Greenland, including Thule, many times. It is one of the most beautiful and spectacular places in the world and I can only encourage your readers to pay my hospitable countrymen up there a visit. For information see www.greenland.com. - Yours, etc.,
K.E. TYGESEN, Ambassador, Royal Danish Embassy, Dublin 2.