"... the outside world which has forgotten what it solemnly has signed."

Extract

NAMMCO is established because there is a need for an organization for the conservation and rational management of marine mammals in the North Atlantic. But also in the cause to establish unity towards the outside world which has forgotten what it so solemnly has signed.

Let me name a few examples on solemn principles which some in the outside world have forgotten:


• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966. It says that all peoples may freely dispose of the natural wealth and resources, and that in no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
• The Rio Declaration from Earth Summit in 1992 which says that unilateral trade policy measures to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided.
• Thirdly, I would like to name GATT. Some countries' ban on sealskin and other products from other marine mammals which are not endangered is clearly a contradiction to GATT.

To be able to read these internationally agreed principles you need not speak Greenlandic. It is sufficient to speak English.

I hope that our meeting in Nuuk will generate a new inspiration in our unity towards the outside world which has forgotten something very important.

I wish you all a good meeting and a nice stay here in Nuuk. Thank you.