Denmark won’t loosen its tight budget for ICC

The Greenlandic office of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference came up short when Denmark’s parliament approved its national budget last week.

Kuupik Kleist, one of Greenland’s two members of parliament, had presented suggestions for amendments to the budget on behalf of the North Atlantic Group that includes both Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Kleist called for 2.5 million krøner ($500,000) to support ICC’s international work.

He also asked for increased subsidies to other international human rights groups.

But none of the proposed amendments were included in the final budget.

Kleist said Greenlanders should be concerned about the Danish government’s decision.

Lars Emil Johansen, who also represents Greenland in the Danish parliament, said he supported Kleist’s unsuccessful effort to wrest more money from the conservative, budget-slashing government.

“It all seems like it has been determined beforehand,” Johansen told Greenland’s national radio network, KNR.