Mariia Simonsen | 21-06 - 13:05
The people of Greenland had double the reason to celebrate their national day on Sunday 21 June. After four years of deliberations the country took a step closer to full autonomy when it implemented self-rule.
Queen Margrethe II, accompanied by her husband, the Crown Prince couple and Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, was on hand in the capital Nuuk to oversee the official handover.
The queen presented the self-rule document to parliamentary speaker Josef Motzfeldt who said he was deeply honoured by the occasion.
‘For years we have considered Home Rule a temporary station, but one can’t flourish in a no-man’s land and that’s why it was necessary to continue with the peaceful development of our co-existence,’ said Motzfeldt.
Greenland will continue to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark and be subject to its constitution, but Greenlanders will now be treated as separate people under international law. Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) will become the official language for the 57,000 inhabitants.
Read the article about self rule in this week’s English newsletter