Norwegian and Greenlandic Foreign Ministers meet with the President of Sami Parliament in Tromsø

'I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Norway's Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, and the President of the Sámi Parliament, Silje Karine Muotka, for the warm welcome and the open and constructive dialogue. The hospitality in Tromsø and the willingness to strengthen our cooperation reflect the strong bond between our Peoples. It is precisely through such meetings that we build on our shared commitment in the Arctic and ensure that the voices of Indigenous Peoples are heard in international cooperation', Motzfeldt emphasizes.

The meetings took place in connection with the handover of the Arctic Council chairship from Norway to the Kingdom of Denmark on May 12th, which Norway has led since 2023.

'We wish the Kingdom of Denmark the best of luck as it takes over the Chair of the Arctic Council from Norway. This is an important time for the region, with important work ahead for Arctic cooperation and sustainability', the Norwegian Foreign Minister states.

During the meeting, shared interests and future cooperation were discussed. Norway shared experiences from chairing the Arctic Council, and Greenland informed about its ambitions for the Kingdom of Denmark's upcoming chairship. The parties further discussed Nordic cooperation based on the Helsinki Accords, as well as bilateral issues and Greenland's relationship with the EU.

In the meeting with the President of the Sámi Parliament, Greenland's foreign relations were discussed, including its participation in UN bodies and the role of Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic Council.

In addition to discussions on cooperation and shared interests between the countries, Vivian Motzfeldt and Espen Barth Eide visited the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic.