Denmark shifts on Faroese self-determination, lawmaker says

Denmark has changed its position on the Faroe Islands’ right to self-determination since sovereignty negotiations 25 years ago, according to Jørgen Niclasen, chair of the Løgting’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Kringvarp Føroya reported the comments.

During the negotiations around the turn of the century, Denmark refused to recognise the Faroese right to self-determination under international law or submit a declaration on the matter to the United Nations.

Niclasen said that position has now changed. He pointed to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s repeated statements, during the dispute with the United States over Greenland and discussions on a new security policy agreement, that Greenland’s right to self-determination must be respected and that Greenland itself governs Greenland.

“It is therefore self-evident that the Faroe Islands govern the Faroe Islands,” Niclasen said.

He added that if the agreement on Greenland’s future security policy is realised, the Faroe Islands will also be in a stronger position in negotiations with Denmark over Faroese self-government.