Denmark, Greenland and Canada agree to determine who owns Hans Island, a disputed Arctic island, at the negotiating table, Ritzau news bureau reported on Tuesday.

"We have reached an agreement with the Canadians about ending the case. Now we will begin the studies required," Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller told daily tabloid B.T.

Despite its mere 1.3 square kilometers, the island, located between Greenland and Canada, has been the subject of controversy since Canada's defense minister, Bill Graham, landed there last month and raised the Canadian flag.

Denmark considers Hans Island to be part of Greenland, because it has traditionally been used by hunters from the former Danish colony. Although Greenland's Home Rule government administers domestic affairs, Denmark continues to represent Greenland in its foreign affairs.

Last week, the Danish Navy sent the patrol ship "Tuluigaq" to raise a Danish flag on the island. Moeller told B.T. that the ship would not tamper with the Canadian flag, even though Denmark still considered the island to be part of Greenland.

"I have given orders for the ship to sail there. But it won't land and try to take flags down and raise another one. That's a bit childish of two NATO allies," Moeller said.

Moeller announced that he would meet Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew in New York to discuss ownership of Hans Island. If the two countries were unable to resolve the issue, they agreed to let the international court in the Hague determine who is the rightful owner.

Source: Xinhua