Nuuk withdraws a human-rights complaint to the UN

By Kevin McGwin, The Arctic Journal - May 19, 2017
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Greenland’s government has told the UN that it is dropping a complaint about Denmark’s treatment of the country.

The announcement yesterday by Suka K. Frederiksen, the current foreign minister, that the complaint was inaccurate and inadequate came less than 24 hours after it became publicly known that it had been submitted by her predecessor on April 6, apparently without the knowledge of other lawmakers.

[Greenland brings Denmark before the UN for failing to clean up old US military pollution]

The letter sent to the UN Human Rights Council by Vittus Qujaukitsoq, who stepped down on April 24, asked the organisation to look into whether Denmark had violated human-rights conventions by not cleaning up pollution left behind at US military installations, as well as by failing to secure adequate compensation for the US use of land for an air-force base currently operational there.

Suka K. Frederiksen, Greenland's the current foreign minister, has withdrawn a UN complaint lodged by her predecessor. (The Arctic Journal)
Suka K. Frederiksen, Greenland’s the current foreign minister, has withdrawn a UN complaint lodged by her predecessor. (The Arctic Journal)

In her own letter, Frederiksen informed the Human Rights Council that Nuuk was “not able to support” the claims made by Qujaukitsoq.

Speaking with the media on Wednesday, she said Qujaukitsoq’s letter had been sent without the knowledge of the elected government or the national assembly.

A letter from Greenland's current foreign minister, Suka K. Frederiksen, withdrawing a complaint previously lodged with the UN. (The Arctic Journal)
A letter from Greenland’s current foreign minister, Suka K. Frederiksen, withdrawing a complaint previously lodged with the UN. (The Arctic Journal)