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WORLD NEWS Saturday 17 auguSt 2019

Dutch Princess Christina, Greenland to Trump:

sister of former Thanks, but we're not for sale

queen, dies at 72

By SETH BORENSTEIN and
THE HAGUE, Netherlands ZEKE MILLER
(AP) — Dutch Princess Associated Press
Christina, the youngest sis- TASIILAQ, Greenland (AP)
ter of former Queen Beat- — Greenlanders are giv-
rix, died Friday after a bat- ing Donald Trump the cold
tle with bone cancer. She shoulder.
was 72. Although amused, they're
Christina, the youngest of definitely not warming up
four daughters of the late to the U.S. president's talk
Queen Juliana and her of buying the semiautono-
German-born husband mous Danish territory.
Prince Bernhard, died at "We see it as an expression
the Noordeinde Palace in of greater interest in invest-
The Hague, according to ing in our country and the
the Dutch Royal House. possibilities we offer," the In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, icebergs are
In a tweet, King Willem- Greenland government photographed from the window of an airplane carrying NASA
Alexander, Queen Maxi- said Friday in a short state- Scientists as they fly on a mission to track melting ice in eastern
Greenland.
ma and Beatrix described ment. "Of course, Green- Associated Press
Christina as "a striking per- land is not for sale."
sonality with a warm heart." Reports that Trump had tion of buying Greenland in Greenland, Tina Joer-
Publicity-shy Christina and spoken about the notion conversations with Ameri- gensen laughed.
her former husband Jorge of buying the land mass, can lawmakers enough "I thought it was a joke,"
Guillermo, the son of a which lies between the At- times to make them won- said Joergensen, a native
Cuban doctor, had three lantic and Arctic oceans, der, but they have not tak- of Denmark who was fly-
children, Bernardo, Nicolás were good for a laugh, resi- en his comments seriously. ing from tiny Kulusuk on
and Juliana. The couple di- dents said. Both spoke on the condi- Greenland's eastern coast
vorced in 1996. "He has nothing to do with tion of anonymity to discuss to the larger Tasiilaq for
The marriage removed Greenland," said 28-year- private conversations. a new job as a nurse. "He
Christina from the line of Undated handout photo of old Martina M.D.D. Tay, "Because of the unofficial can buy anything I guess,
succession to the Dutch Dutch Princess Christina. who was born and raised nature of the news, the or this is what he thinks he
throne and allowed her to Associated Press in Tasiilaq, a coastal Green- government of Greenland can. But you can't — sorry.
live outside the royal court. land town of about 2,000 has no further comments," In my view, you can't buy
During her life, she lived in mans, led to a royal crisis in people. "I think it's a ridicu- Greenland said on its web- a country. It's very respect-
countries including Italy, the 1950s. lous idea. I think it sounds site. less."
the United States and Can- Hofmans reportedly ex- stupid." The White House has not Jakob Ipsen was less than
ada. erted increasing influence Lars Loekke Rasmussen, commented on the re- impressed with the possibil-
Dutch Prime Minister Mark over Queen Juliana to the who served as Danish ports, but it wouldn't be the ity Trump may want to pur-
Rutte said by relinquish- annoyance of Prince Ber- prime minister until June, first time an American lead- chase his nation. Ipsen has
ing her right to the throne, nhard, leading to rumors weighed in on social me- er tried to buy the world's something in common with
Christina "created room for of a possible divorce. The dia, tweeting "it must be an largest island. the U.S. president: Both run
herself to lead her own life. royal couple, however, re- April Fool's Day joke" that In 1946, the U.S. proposed hotels. Ipsen's hotel is small-
A life dominated by family, mained married. was out of season. paying Denmark $100 mil- er than a Trump one and
her great love of music and Christina's remains will be A Trump ally told The Associ- lion to buy Greenland af- provides hands-on service,
development of young taken to Fagel's Garden ated Press on Thursday that ter flirting with the idea of such as finding boats and
singing talent." Pavilion on the grounds of the Republican president swapping land in Alaska for driving guests around. Ip-
Christina was born partially Noordeinde Palace, where had discussed the pur- strategic parts of the Arctic sen noted there's a history
blind and her mother's de- friends and family will pay chase but was not serious island. of outsiders unsuccessfully
cision to seek help from their last respects before a about it. And a Republican When she heard that Don- wanting to take over the gi-
a faith healer, Greet Hof- private cremation.q congressional aide said
Trump brought up the no- ald Trump wants to buy ant, mostly barren island.q