Diplomacy MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2019 - ISSUE 8
• THE ROMANIAN AMBASSADOR TALKS ABOUT THE EU AND PROMOTING HIS COUNTRY • OSCE: HELPING TO KEEP EUROPE SAFE • PRINCE JOACHIM AT 50
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO AMBASSADORS IN DENMARK
PROMOTING COHESION IN THE HEART OF EUROPE THE ROMANIAN WAY BY STEPHEN GADD
The current Romanian Ambassador is a firm believer in the power of culture to show the positive side of his country Romania's ambassador to Denmark and Iceland, Alexandru Grădinar, holds a PhD in economics but despite his relatively young age, has been working in the diplomatic service for 17 years, the last two years and ten months of these being spent in Denmark. The ambassador spoke to Diplomacy magazine.
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Our team at the embassy has engaged with the Danes through a wide series of political and economic debates and cultural events. Moreover, collaboration with the Danish and Icelandic authorities (I always like to remind people I proudly represent Romania to Iceland too) has significantly deepened, so I've been able to intensify our bilateral relations, which is a top priority for any diplomat abroad. Culture has been a major tool to promote the true image of Romania and dissipate the negative stereotypes we are unfortunately often associated with in Denmark. This doesn’t happen everywhere in the world: Romania and Romanians have an excellent reputation on other continents as well as in other European countries. All over Denmark we've organised film festivals, concerts, traditional crafts festivals, jazz concerts, glass sculpture exhibitions, fashion shows, wine tastings etc. I hope all these efforts will leave a positive Romanian legacy in the hearts of the Danes. I also have a treasured memory of the Royal Run in 2018 and again in 2019, when I ran side by side with HRH Crown Prince Frederik. This kind of informal event brings our countries closer together. 2
With former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
The ambassador promoting business ties between Romania and Denmark
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Now you know them better, how do you find the Danes as a people? The more contact I have with the Danes, the closer I get to their hearts, which is very rewarding for any diplomat in Denmark. It may sound like a cliché, but what I admire about them is precisely what makes the Danes famous around the world: their love of design and innovation, the balance between future orientation (digitization and hightech) and tradition (family, ‘hygge’). From a professional point of view I'm impressed with the way they promote their priorities and national image abroad. Not only do they do it consistently and efficiently, but also on the very simple principle of flat hierarchy! I would add one more thing here: their dedication to a clean environment and to combat climate change challenges. On a more personal level, I find the positive worklife balance a very wise approach as well as an intense focus on supporting the overall well-being
of the individual and of society in general. When I first came, I was amazed Danes left work at 4 pm, which is very rare in my country. Nevertheless, I've gradually come to appreciate the fact that they value time with family and friends.
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In January, Romania assumed the presidency of the EU Council. What are the most pressing challenges Romania has to deal with? Romania took over its first-ever presidency of the EU Council at an exceptional moment in the history of the European Union. The European Parliament and European Commission were preparing for new elections and the legislative cycle was far more intense than usual. The Brexit negotiations have given a very different touch to our presidency – and not a happy one. Brexit is a significant challenge to the very foundation of the EU and to its future. The role of Europe as a global actor has therefore been a key priority of the Romanian Presidency.
Photo: Frederic Dekkal
A lot has happened since you first spoke to the magazine in 2017. What have been the highlights of your time in Denmark so far? A lot indeed! It's not in every mandate that an ambassador has the privilege to celebrate three historic episodes in a row: a century of diplomatic bilateral relations (2017), the Centennial of the Great Union of his own country (2018) and the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2019.
Photo: Valentin Debu
HRH Crown Princess Mary at the finishing line of the Royal Run 2019 with the Ambassador of Romania
In our vision, the further enlargement of the Union and the Eastern Partnership are directly connected to the EU's global role and Romania has spent tremendous energy promoting these aspects. Last but not least, negotiations over the future EU budget have also added to the complexity of our mandate. Despite these challenges, all the signals I've received indicate we've managed very well. We've closed over 90 files directly impacting the Union and the European citizens, such as the Gas Directive, Copyright Directive and regulations combating disinformation.
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What projects have been launched in Denmark in connection with the presidency? The embassy has organised more than 20 events in various cities in Denmark. I've also held many meetings with Danish civil society in Copenhagen, Aalborg, Odense, Sønderborg, where I've talked about current challenges and the future of the EU. This has led to some very interesting discussions. In addition, we've arranged meetings between prominent Danish political figures and ambassadors of EU and candidate countries. Last but not least, holding the presidency is a great opportunity for member states to promote their culture and traditions. We've done this with a series of events which, I believe, brought the Romanian spirit closer to the Danes. For example, many people came to admire the Romanian traditional crafts in front of the Copenhagen Town Hall or Romanian glass sculpture on Bredgade, but also were impressed by the photographic art exhibition and theatre performance the embassy organised.
HM Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, visiting Copenhagen during Romania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the embassy team Europe, I can testify that EU membership has meant an official recognition of our European DNA. The year we joined, 2007, also marked the beginning of a long healing process after the fall of the Iron Curtain. To my mind, these wounds will only completely heal once we don't have any more East/West divisions, either on the political stage or in our everyday lives. This is one of the reasons behind our Presidency motto: Cohesion, a common European value.
Q
Is there a 'Euro sceptic' movement in Romania akin to the ones in some other European countries?
eter survey has revealed our enthusiasm and trust in the European Union. In 2018, 52 percent of
We don’t have figures for 2019 yet but I imagine the level of enthusiasm with the EU is pretty high, given the interest of the Romanian people in our first EU Council presidency. And don’t forget the Sibiu Informal Summit of EU heads of state or government, which took place on Europe Day this year. It is not every day that all the EU leaders gather in one of the most beloved cities in Romania. On May 9, we felt the city of Sibiu was the heart of Europe. Imagine how I personally felt, as I was born and grew up in Sibiu!
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No. Romanians have always been staunch supporters of the European project and each Eurobarom-
If we take the European institutions (the European Parliament or Commission) separately, the levels of trust are equally high.
Romanians expressed trust in the EU, in contrast with the EU average of 42 percent. In addition, 51 percent of Romanians considered their voice was heard in the Union (the EU average is 49 percent).
How can you, as ambassador, contribute to promoting business ties between Denmark and Romania? Are there any specific areas where co-operation is already taking place? Economic diplomacy is one of the most important dimensions of my mandate. There is an economic dimension in each of my diplomatic actions, be it in meetings with Danish companies and authorities or in various official functions.
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Beyond surveys, I believe the sense of belonging to the European family is the most valuable achievement. Contrary to certain opinions about the EU not being equivalent to 4
Withon theCopenhagen's Australian Invictus Games team Romanian crafts festival Town Hall Square
Photo: Valentin Debu
What has being a member of the European Union meant to Romania? We’ve been a member of the EU for 12 years now and if you look at surveys, there are several things Romanians appreciate very much about EU membership: the free movement of people, goods and services, peace, the economic power of the EU, student exchange programmes, and the Common Agricultural Policy.
Photo: Frederic Dekkal
Over 2,000 Romanians are enrolled in academic Romanian traditional blouse at an event organised by the embassy
and research programs at Danish universities. Many of them choose to stay on and thus become an asset to the Danish economy and society. Romanian workers make a great contribution
What I can tell you is that all Danish companies with Romanian partners always appreciate their commitment, and most collaborations develop into long term relations. This is especially true in agriculture, where we have a consistent presence of Danish investors in both crops and animal breeding.
to the Danish economy. This is especially true in
At the other end of the economic spectrum, Danish companies have already recognised the potential and professionalism of Romanian IT partners. They have developed joint projects in areas as diverse as defence industry, healthcare applications and mobile solutions. Finally, through the events we organise in Denmark – promotions of Romanian wines and organic cosmetics, to give just two recent examples – we show a different face of our country, one which is often overlooked by the negative stereotypes associated to Romania.
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There are a number of Romanians living in Denmark. How does the Embassy reach out to them and how do they contribute to the Danish economy? The Romanian community counts over 31,300 people at present. It is one of the fastest growing in Denmark and it largely consists of active workers and students. All are well integrated in the Danish labour market, pay taxes in Denmark and many enrol in trade unions. You’ll meet them mainly in agriculture, services and construction, but more recently we've witnessed an increasing interest in Denmark from highly skilled Romanians in IT, medicine, green energy and engineering.
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Q
Photo: Valentin Debu
Football tournament organised by the embassy for the Romanian community in Denmark – Embassy and Friends team
Is there anything from the Romanian history and culture that might teach the Danes a thing or two? It is mainly what I would call “the Eastern story” that could teach Danes, and Western Europeans alike, a thing or two.
local communities which are affected either by
What I mean by this is the way we Romanians
ageing populations or by the migration of young
appreciate the freedom, peace and democracy
Danes to major urban centres. You’ll find this in
that are the cornerstones of the EU foundation.
sectors such as agriculture and fisheries. I'd like
Communism left such a heavy mark on our
to see these realities recognised more often and
collective psyche that we value from a completely
publicly valued here in Denmark.
different perspective the most precious gains of the post-war world, such as freedom and
But apart from the contribution to the Danish economy, I think I can say that the Romanian diaspora is a big gain for the Danish society in general. Romanians have not forgotten where they come from, keeping very close ties to the Romanian traditions and culture, but at the same time embracing the values, the language and life style of the host country. Not many foreign communities have adapted so well. The embassy keeps permanent contact with the representatives of the Romanian community in Denmark. Apart from its consular services, it offers support via its social and internal affairs attachés.
democracy. In the West, not many people remember what it is like to live under oppressive regimes with no human rights and freedom of movement. In the East, however, the more mature generations – I myself included – remember those times very well and cherish in a different way the values which are now at the basis of the European Union. That is why you will hardly find Eurosceptics in Romania, as I said earlier. The Romanian culture could teach about tradition and tolerance. Look at how keen Romanians are to preserve their traditions and spirituality. We have learned to be proud of our profound cultural reservoir and we promote it across the globe
Reaching out to the community is also done
now. For example 'Ia' – the traditional Romanian
through things like theatre performances, folk
blouse – has become a UNESCO heritage item
concerts, events for children or promoting
and it is widely worn by the young generations,
their stories on our Facebook page, which
be it on Sundays, during the holy mass at church,
by the way I encourage you to follow. We've
or with a pair of jeans at parties. My wife and I,
even launched a football competition for the
together with our two daughters, regularly follow
Romanians across Denmark.
this example too.
Photo: Valentin Debu
www.cis.dk
Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu gave a recital on Romania's national day in 2018 on his Stradivarius Romanian gastronomy tells many good things about tolerance, as it has incorporated many influences from our region, as a sign of acceptance of the many ethnic minorities living peacefully in Romania for centuries. Soon Danish interns from Copenhagen Hospitality College will start learning about our gastronomy under the guidance of famous Romanian chefs in Romania. It is one of the projects very close to my heart.
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Can you suggest some places you think everyone should see in Romania? My first recommendation would be the Danube Delta, with its unique flora and fauna – one of the most beautiful places on earth. I truly believe so and each time I go there, it reconfirms my belief. UNESCO confirms this, as the Danube Delta features on the list of World Heritage Sites. On this list, you will also find our famous churches (the wooden churches of Maramures, the churches of Moldova, the fortified churches in Transylvania), the historic centre of Sighisoara, and the primeval beech forests of the Carpathians – and many others, which I invite you to discover for yourself during one of your holidays. Let me speak once more about my hometown – the medieval city of Sibiu. In 2007 it was the European Capital of Culture and this year it is the European Region of Gastronomy. If you go, I am confident you will fall in love with Sibiu, just like the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, did recently at the informal meeting of EU heads of state or government. “I have fallen in love with Sibiu, the whole of Europe has fallen in love with you,” said Tusk.
Photo: Valentin Debu
The good news is that not only Sibiu but many other cities in Romania are now closer than ever to Denmark, thanks to the direct flights to major cities in Romania from Copenhagen and Billund. So I invite you to discover Romania and experience it first-hand. I guarantee you will find many reasons to return: either to the mountains, to the fine sand beaches with warm water, to the historic cities, to the golf courses, or to the delicious food and fine wines.
Romanian wines promoted at the residence of the Romanian ambassador
Before long, you’ll belong Settling into a new country can be challenging – especially for the nonworking spouse. We know, from studies and from experience, that a successful posting depends on the happiness of the entire family – and our school is home to a very active, warm and welcoming community. Our PTA offers a wide range of opportunities: Newcomers Network, Spring Fair, Halloween, Yoga, Art & Culture Tours, Wine and Cheese Evening, Dads’ Club and Ladies’ Night Out. Dedicated parents coach our sports teams, run our boy scouts and serve on the school Board. At CIS the whole family finds a place to grow roots and make friends. So to quote one of our parents: “I came for the job, but we stayed for the school.”
OSCE: A MODERN APPROACH TO SECURITY IN EUROPE
Cleaning up the harbour with the Norwegian ambassador
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
BY EMILE YOUNG
With a number of pressing issues, OSCE’s Secretary General has his work cut out Born in Lucerne, Switzerland, Thomas Greminger holds a PhD in history from the University of Zurich and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (General Staff) in the Swiss Armed Forces. He joined the diplomatic service in 1990 and has held a number of senior positions during his career including being Deputy Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation, overseeing an annual budget of USD 730 million and 900 staff in Bern and abroad. 8
From 2010-2015, Greminger served as Switzerland's permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), serving as Chair of the Permanent Council in 2014. He was appointed OSCE Secretary-General for a three-year period starting in July 2017. Diplomacy Magazine interviewed him in Copenhagen in May.
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Could you tell me a bit more about the OSCE's work and priorities? OSCE is the world's largest regional security organisation, with 57 participating states. We cover North America, Europe and the entire ex-Soviet Union, including Central Asia. We have a comprehensive approach to security encompassing hard issues like political and military
questions but also counter-terrorism, extremism, cyber security, and trafficking of all sorts – particularly trafficking in human beings. We also deal with economic and environmental issues linked with security. Finally, there’s what the OSCE calls the human dimension. This is democratic institutions, human rights and the rule of law. In addition to the Secretariat, we have three independent institutions: Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw, the High Commission on National Minorities in The Hague, and the Representative on the Freedom of the Media in Vienna. We also have 16 field operations, of which the best-known is the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. That's our largest field operation where
we have our activities related to the conflict cycle: conflict prevention, management, and resolution. The Conflict Prevention Center in the Secretariat supports the different mediation formats that we have and also the field missions. Top of our agenda is the crisis in and around Ukraine. We have the Trilateral Contact Group that meets on a bi-weekly basis in Minsk with all the five signatories of the Minsk agreements sitting around the table. There is a special representative of the OSCE mediating the format and the Secretariat supports the process. We have similar formats for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Transdniestrian settlement process, and for dealing with the consequences of the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.
Q
What does your role as Secretary General entail? On the one hand the Secretary General is the chief administrative officer for the entire OSCE, including all the institutions and all the field operations, but I'm also the deputy of the Chair-in-Office. Chair-in-Office is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the chairing country. Right now, that is Miroslav Lajčák from the Slovak Republic. In practice, it's very much a division of labour between us, so formally speaking, you could say I'm the deputy chief diplomat of the OSCE.
Q
What major challenges do you face? The key challenge is operating in a very polarised political environment, such as the absolute low trust and confidence among the key stakeholders of Euratlantic and Eurasian security. I alluded to the crisis in and around Ukraine. That is also one of the key contributors to this low trust among key stakeholders, and that effect dominates what we do. On the plus side, we have everybody sitting around the same table. So our comparative advantage is to be an inclusive platform for dialogue. But of course, we are a consensus-based organisation. This also makes achieving consensus very difficult.
Q
What brings you to Copenhagen? I'm here because I wanted to visit the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly and I thought we should combine it with the meeting of the Bureau of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. By chance, President Meta of Albania was also attending the same meeting. Albania is going to chair this organisation next year, so is not only a participating state but also a member of the OSCE Troika right now, and a crucial interlocutor. This afternoon I will meet with the Danish State Secretary.
Q
During your time as Secretary General OSCE has acted in various crises. Has this changed your vision? I'm more convinced than ever that we need this organisation. Perhaps because we're in such a polarised world, it makes it very hard on a daily basis to find consensus on things like a budget. We've struggled to get the budget of our flagship operation in Ukraine approved at the last moment. But at the same time, it is where you have the key stakeholders at the table. We are trying to take advantage of this and also try to invite participating states to use this platform. At the end of the day, you can have the best tool box for addressing conflict, for preventing conflict, but you need enlightened stakeholders to make use of these tools.
Q
What are the current security challenges facing Europe? You have conflicts, protracted conflicts and military risks again, which
is something we thought was in the past. But against the backdrop of these more conventional military threats, you have cyber security issues. Here, the OSCE plays a crucial role because we are the first regional organisation that has come up with two sets of confidence building measures. We're working hard trying to devise a system that allows us to prevent miscalculations or misinterpretations regarding inter-state cyber incidents. There’s also trafficking – not just in human beings, but also in drugs and arms. Terrorism – preventing violent extremism and the radicalisation that leads to terrorism, that is an issue particularly in Central Asia but also in the Western Balkans and very relevant for the OSCE. But then I would also refer to the nexus between climate change and security and climate change and migration. New issues on the horizon are artificial intelligence and its repercussions on security.
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What are the long - and short - term goals of managing migration and the fight against human trafficking? OSCE started seriously dealing with migration policy issues close to four years ago. The OSCE platform was used to advocate a co-operative approach to migration management. But the particular angle of the comparative advantage of the OSCE clearly lies in the nexus between migration and security. For instance, crime along migration routes. And here of course, combating the trafficking of human beings particularly comes to mind. I think we have developed niches where we clearly have comparative advantages in supporting participating states in dealing with these issues. We have also embarked on a strong co-operation with our Mediterranean
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
partners in combating the trafficking of human beings along migration routes. We also offer integration policy advice. In another area ODIHR is strong when it comes to the human rights of migrants.
Q
What are OSCE’s thoughts on gender equality, particularly on integrating women and the youth in peace and security efforts? Both gender mainstreaming as well as youth mainstreaming are crucial pillars of the Fit for Purpose agenda that I launched eighteen months ago. Youth and security is a relatively young issue. We really started dealing with this about five years ago and in a relatively short period I think we've made quite some progress in consolidating the issue on the OSCE agenda. Of course, we are still far from really integrating young perspectives in security policies. But we have been developing a number of interesting tools and policies to advance this agenda, and there is relatively broad support. I would argue that we are also important contributors in implementing the UN Youth Agenda in the OSCE area. There is a gender plan of action dating back to 2004. Here, more has happened. We have also progressed quite a bit, but we still have huge challenges. We are in the final stages of launching a gender parity strategy. Gender parity is particularly challenging when it comes to the more hard security areas of our work. But of course gender mainstreaming is also an issue when it comes to our programmatic work. Here, we have made quite some progress but there is still lots of work
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to do, particularly when it comes to really making sure that gender is systematically mainstreamed into our major projects and programs.
Q
prevention. And I think that I would also outline that as a major achievement.
Q
What have been OSCE's main achievements recently? One of the biggest and ongoing achievement is holding states accountable to respect the principles and commitments of the OSCE. Despite all the challenges and difficulties we've seen to this rule-based security order, we have managed to uphold principles and commitments and to hold states accountable.
What do you hope to see in 2019? I hope we have progress in resolving the crisis in and around Ukraine. Hopefully we also progress when it comes to other protracted conflicts. I think there have been encouraging signs in the Transdniestrian settlement process and the NagornoKarabakh conflict.
And then I would of course point to the crisis in and around Ukraine where we've been successful in preventing further escalation of the conflict. We've been a good crisis manager. Not so successful in moving the conflict towards a resolution. But there I would admit that this is also to a large extent dependent on the political will of the parties to the conflict.
Generally I would like participating states and political leaders to use the OSCE more systematically to rebuild trust and confidence, in particular between Russia and the West, primarily in addressing the issues of military risk that we are currently facing. But I would also hope that we can make progress in tackling some of the relatively new security challenges. I refer to the climate change and security nexus. I mentioned it also in talking to the parliamentarians on artificial intelligence.
Perhaps there's a third element when it comes to preventing conflict. We've been consistently supporting participating states in strengthening their democratic institutions and in helping them strengthen their rule of law. And in that sense, this is a structural
We are soon holding a security day. OSCE's contribution to implementing the 2030 UN agenda for sustainable development. So how can the OSCE contribute to implement the SDGs. That's also an area where I would hope to see progress by the end of this year.
A BORN OPTIMIST COMMITTED TO HELPING TO REBUILD HIS NATION
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
The ambassador at Asia House
The new Philippine ambassador discusses his new posting and shares his views on international relations
Although the country has been represented in Denmark for some time on a consular level, Leo Herrera-Lim is the first ambassador from the Philippines actually to be based here.
Q
He is a career diplomat who holds both a BA in law and in the arts, majoring in economics. Prior to moving to Denmark, Herrera-Lim served in postings in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, as well as in London. The Ambassador spoke to CPH POST.
Q Q
First of all, congratulations on being the first Philippine Ambassador based in Denmark! That must be very exciting for you ‌ Indeed. It is very exciting to be in Denmark. Could you tell us a little about your background and what attracted you to the diplomatic service? I am a career diplomat in the Philippine foreign service. I joined the service right after the dictatorship of Marcos was 11
The abmassador with the embassy staff team
overthrown by a popular people-power revolution. Partly driven by youthful idealism seeking to be relevant in the collective effort to rebuild a nation and a bit of the lure of the romanticised image of a diplomatic life, I found myself taking the foreign service exam and committing myself to this calling. I am a person who is curious by nature. Methodical but not rigid. Always optimistic and believing that better days always lie ahead albeit thankful for the blessings of today.
Q
In the fast-paced modern world, traditional diplomacy might appear to be a bit of an anachronism. Do you have any comment to this? I believe that the craft of diplomacy is never irrelevant or anachronistic to the world we live in. If we do good in creating understanding and respect, then we have understood the core of diplomacy and remained true to its underlying societal value. Technology and innovation have made it easier to travel as well as to be connected; yet they remain as modern day tools not replacement for the craft. The best assets are always our people.
Q
I know it must all be very new, but have you managed to form any impressions of Denmark and the Danes yet? Still evolving. On my impressions of Denmark and the Danes, it is generally good and getting better.
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Q
How would you describe relations between
thousands of Filipinos working on Danish
the Philippines and Denmark and what is the
vessels. They can compete against the best
background to this co-operation? The Philippines and Denmark have a lot in common: our commitment to democratic ideals and way of life, our collective aspirations for peace, progress and prosperity, our goodness anchored on the blessings of faith. Both countries are family-centred. On balance, there is a fair wind blowing in the sails of Philippine-Denmark relations.
talents in the world.
I know there is a significant Filipino
They all justly deserve respect.
community in Denmark. What does the
Respect for a treasured group of migrant
Q
embassy do to reach out to them and what can they contribute to Danish society? When I tell the people I meet in Denmark there are about 12,000 Filipinos across Denmark, not everyone is surprised; that's in sharp contrast to the reaction from the Filipinos back home when I share the same figures. We have Filipinos working in Danish firms or international organisations based in Denmark. We have entrepreneurs. We have Filipinos who joined the Danish government. We have
We are also proud of the Filipino au pairs in Denmark. They have made themselves worthy of being invited into the most treasured place for any Dane ‌ their homes. They have been trusted to be part of their families – and around their children. Collectively, they form the image of a much-loved group of migrants in society.
workers should go beyond workplace protection. It should include the opportunity to regularise their stay and be mainstays of society. Their talents and trustworthiness should be matched by nothing less. And this is part of our advocacy work. On my first days in Copenhagen, I had the opportunity to meet with some of our community leaders and start our dialogue on many matters including their aspirations.
Q
Terrorism is, unfortunately, an ever-present threat. How does the Philippines co-operate with other countries in this area? The Philippines is fully aware of the clear and present danger that terrorism poses to the way of life of our people and the security of our nation. We feel it. We have seen its ugliness all too often. Filipinos were a mongst the casualties in the World Trade Center in 2001. Filipino seafarers are amongst those brought in harm’s way in the Horn of Africa. In Marawi we have seen the faith of our Muslim brethren misappropriated and weaponised to sow hatred and unrest. We always support a multilateral approach. We adhere to the ideals of the United Nation. We rally behind approaches that address the root causes of discontent that provides fertile grounds for sowing the seeds of terror.
At the 'Denmark-Philippines: Great business opportunities' event at Asia house on May 22
Q
The Philippines is an economy on the move. What are the major import and export commodities and do you have trading ties with Denmark? The Philippines is one of the fastest moving economies in Asia. The government of the day is working to lay the foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society, and globally competitive knowledge economy. There is tremendous scope to expand the trade partnership between the Philippines and Denmark. The Philippines enjoys the EU’s privileges under the GSP+ mechanism. Coconut, bananas, tuna and seaweeds are some of the best products from the Philippines. In addition, our top exports to the world are semiconductors, computer parts and auto parts. We import pharmaceutical products and agricultural produce from Denmark. We can have complementary relationships in the services sector, such as banking and insurance, maritime, hospitality and the medical field.
Q
Europe seems a long way from the Philippines. How does it fit in compared to other Asian countries and the US when it comes to foreign policy? Distance is no longer the measure that correlates the relationships of countries and peoples. Rather, it is the commonalities of values. The Philippines is always ready to be on the side of those who share our commitment to democracy and ready to defend our way of life against those misled into thinking that terrorism can break the bond amongst the like-minded. We remain committed to the multilateral approach towards addressing global security challenges, whether it is the scourge of terrorism or the unpredictability of climate change. We continue to believe in the multilateral trading system that provides free and transparent trade in goods and a reliable system of dispute resolution, as a proven approach to lift millions out of poverty.
Q
Climate change issues have really moved centre stage recently. How does the Philippines plan to tackle the effects of global warming?
We have a people and a government fully committed to addressing climate change at the micro and macro level. The government of the day has ratified the Paris agreement. It has put policies in towards having a higher mix of renewables in the Philippine energy supply.
Publisher:
Editor: Hans Hermansen With his wife Mdm Fides Herrera-Lim
Q
Journalists
We have geothermal, biomass, solar, and wind energy in the Philippines. Vestas is a significant partner of the Philippine's energy industry. Thanks to its history, the Philippines is a good example of a multi-cultural society. What is the secret for making people from such diverse backgrounds and religions get along in harmony together? The Filipinos, by nature, are hospitable. We find strength in diversity. We welcome the unfamiliar and make them part of our lives. We see people as inherently good. In our Constitution we have enshrined these values: not to discriminate by reason of colour or belief; to make everybody a valued member of society; and to make individual rights just as important as collective security.
Stephen Gadd
Ben Hamilton
Robert Eyfjord
Emile Young
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Finally, Danes probably know the country best as tourists. Do you have any tips for places that visitors should see that are not so well known? Re-visit the beaches of Boracay after the rehabilitation. Surf in Siargao or Baler. Wander through coffee farms in Benguet, Sagada or Davao. Or the beaches in Coron, Palawan. Get lost in Batanes. But wait. We're going to start organising trips to the Philippines in the coming months so the Danes can escape winter and enjoy the Philippine experience of beaches, adventure, cuisine and culture and shout out that truly “... It’s more fun in the Philippines”.
Photographer
Christian Wenande
Hasse Ferrold Layout: CPH POST Info: hans@cphpost.dk • Tel: +452420 2411 Oath-taking with the Minister of Foreign Affairs 14
www. cphpost.dk
Many of the faces on these pages will be familiar to readers of CPH POST as they are foreign ambassadors to Denmark and feature regularly in Hasse Ferrold’s About Town. Many are not based in Denmark, but fulfil their ambassadorial positions from overseas
AMBASSADORS BASED IN DENMARK
Australia
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Armenia
Elida Petoshati
Ali Benzerga
Conrado Solari
Alexander Arzoumanian
Belgium
Benin
Leo Peeters
Eusebe Agbangla
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mary Ellen Miller
Brazil
Austria
Bangladesh
Maria Rotheiser-Scotti
Muhammad Muhith
Burkina Faso
Bulgaria
Carlos da Rocha
Svetlan Stoev
Maria-Goretti Agaleoue
Canada Emi Furuya
Emir Poljo
Chile Isauro Torres
Estonia Märt Volmer
Iceland Benedikt Jónsson (Diplomatic Corps Dean)
China
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Feng Tie
Tina Krce
Yiliam Sardiñas
Penelope Erotokritou
Radek Pech
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Vesa Vasara
Caroline Farrari
Gigi Gigiadze
Andreas Meitzner
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ajit Gupte
Muhammad Said
Morteza Moradian
Alaa Musa
Ghana Amerley Awua-Asamoa
Ireland Cliona Manahan
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UNUSUAL AND UNEXPECTED COALITIONS, AND DISTINGUISHED AND DASTARDLY PMS
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
Mette Frederiksen is on course to be the next Prime Minister
BY BEN HAMILTON
Denmark’s multi-party political system is a relatively recent development. For the complete picture, we need to delve into the country’s history With the 2019 General Elections on June 5 still fresh in our minds, it would be churlish not to recall some of the most memorable contests, leaderships and coalitions in Danish history. After all, for many of us internationals, Danish politics couldn’t be more different from the two-horse races in our own countries. The July election saw no less than 13 parties vying for the people’s votes. There is never an absolute winner.
The biggest party in the red bloc, Socialdemokratiet, is still trying to persuade the queen it is capable of forming a coalition. On some occasions, those hopes have been completely dashed! It harks back to a time when the monarch not only had the final say, but pretty much decided everything. So in the immortal words of Maria von Trapp, “Let’s start at the very beginning.”
935-1849: IRONIES OF ABSOLUTISM The monarchy was formed in 935, but it was not initially absolute like most other European crowns, although few kings are remembered for abusing their authority in the vein of somebody like Ivan the Terrible or Henry VIII, for example. As an elective monarchy, the next king was always chosen, even if it almost always was the eldest son of the king!
This continued until the reign of Frederik III, and perhaps it was his insistence in the 1660s on the monarchy becoming absolute, thus securing the crown for his son, which unnerved the status quo, as it wasn’t long until the positions of storkansler (grand chancellor – 1699-1730) and statsminister (minister of state – 1730-1848) emerged – forerunners of the position of PM. One of the first ministers of state wasn’t even born in Denmark. While Britain had the Pitts, and the US the Adams, Denmark’s first political dynasty was the Bernstorffs, and it all began in 1751 with the appointment of Count Johann von Bernstorff to the privy council. As statsminister, Bernstorff is credited with maintaining neutrality throughout the Seven Years’ War, and two of his descendants – his nephew and grand-nephew – went on to take the post.
Zahrtmann/Den Hirschsprungske Samling
The most famous statsminister of them all was also German-born. When Johann Struensee was appointed physician to King Christian VII, few imagined he would make his way into the royal family – quite literally. A radical thinker and star of the enlightenment, Struensee banned the slave trade and censorship of the press. Nevertheless, he is best remembered for his affair with Queen Caroline Mathilde and their ‘love child’, Princess Louise Augusta. He was executed shortly after the affair was exposed.
1849-1953: CHAMBER POT SYSTEM When the country adopted a constitution in 1849 under Frederik VII, the way was clear for the country’s first prime minister, and that honour fell to Adam Wilhelm Moltke. His appointment coincided with the foundation of the Danish Parliament (Folketing), which began life as the lower chamber of the Rigsdag, although it held equal power with the landed gentry’s chamber, the Landsting. The bicameral system would stay in place for 104 years, before the Landsting was abolished in 1953, leaving the Folketing to operate as a unicameral legislature. During that period, there were many PMs who made their mark – most notoriously of all Ditlev Monrad, who presided (indecisively according to Christian XI) over the debacle of 1864, Denmark’s darkest hour. Just months after losing the Second Schleswig War and the vast territories of Schleswig and Holstein with it, Monrad legged it to New Zealand! The events of 1864 left the country in ruins, and frugally-minded Jacob Estrup was just the man to get them out of trouble. As PM for 19 years, he presided over a period of austerity from 1875 to 1895, and in 1884 (with the backing of the Landsting) stubbornly refused to resign, even though his Højre party had only won 19 out of 102 seats in the election. Even an assassin’s bullet in 1885 couldn’t get rid of him a year later, making him the only Danish leader to ever be shot at. Julius Rasmussen opened fire at point blank range, contriving to miss with the first and hit one of his coat buttons with the second.
1973: ROCKING THE STATUS QUO One of the most significant elections in recent times took place in 1973. Denmark is well know for having a significant number of political parties, but in 1971 only five won seats. This rose to an unprecedented 10 in 1973, with the newly-established Progress Party winning 28 seats in a contest that quickly took on the name ‘The Landslide Election’. 20
Anker Jørgensen looked on from the sidelines at first Another new party, the Centre Democrats, won 14 seats as the established parties all took a pounding, with Socialdemokratiet losing a third of its seats, and Konservative losing half. The milestone election, which saw a 88.7 percent voter turnout (the highest since 1920), was blamed on the coming of age of the Kunstfond-debatten generation, as the Progress Party’s leader Mogens Glistrup used provocative rhetoric to force a seat at the table alongside fellow new boys Centre Democrats, Konservative, the Christian People’s Party, Radikale and Venstre, which formed the smallest minority government in Danish history with a mere 22 seats and Poul Hartling as PM. It was the birth of modern politics in Denmark, and for the first time parties had to reach across the political spectrum to compromise on policy. Despite claiming 46 seats, Socialdemokratiet and its leader Anker Jørgensen could only watch from the sidelines, although less than two years later he reclaimed the position of PM.
1990: RISE OF THE KINGMAKER History was to repeat itself in 1990 when Socialdemokratiet once again won the most seats but was unable to form a government with its leader Svend Auken as PM due to the refusal of Radikale to support him. It might sound bizarre to some, as Radikale won only seven seats to Socialdemokratiet’s 69, but their refusal to back support Auken enabled Konservative leader Poul Schlüter, with just 30 seats, to remain in power with the help of Venstre (29 seats). Auken would go on to lose the party leadership to Poul Nyrup Rasmussen less than two years later. The next two elections in 1994 and 1998 saw cross spectrum-coalitions led by Rasmussen, with Radikale in its customary role as kingmaker, take control.
2001: HAIL THE BLUE BLOC MESSIAH Inevitably the red bloc vs blue bloc divide, which we today take for granted, made its return in 2001 as Anders Fogh Rasmussen became the first Venstre leader in 26 years to become PM. The victory finally broke a several decades long pattern that had seen Radikale decisively determine who would rule. Dansk Folkeparti’s emergence in 1998 played a significant role, and immigration in 2001 proved to be the key issue as Venstre (56), DF (22) and Konservative (16) formed a strong right-wing coalition solidified by bold policies in the areas of welfare spending and healthcare. With Radikale no longer able to tip the scales, the right-wingers no longer needed to collaborate across the political centre, and the VKO alliance lasted for ten years.
Photo: Hans Jørn Storgaard Andersen
Struensee was a readical thinker but didn't look much like Mads Mikkelsen
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
Nye Borgelige basking in the favour of the electorate
2015: NO LONGER THE BRIDESMAID Back in 1998, few would have ever envisaged Dansk Folkeparti being strong enough to form their own government 17 years later, but 37 seats in 2015 put them in that exact position. Socialdemokratiet (47), meanwhile, won the most seats, but saw support for its government partners SF and Radikale crumble as they lost nine seats each. The blue bloc’s majority put Venstre (35) in the driving seat, and after lengthy negotiations it formed a minority government. Liberal Alliance and Konservative were then admitted into the government almost 18 months later after LA threatened to file a motion of no confidence.
2019: METTE’S HOLDING ACES But four years later, Dansk Folkeparti, so much in the ascendancy in 2015, crashed like Icarus into the waters surrounding Christiansborg, losing 21 mandates. In a gamble worthy of a high-stake poker game, S leader Mette Frederiksen took her immigration policy right of centre, picking up voters from Dansk Folkeparti whilst losing roughly the same number to her allies Radikale and SF.
The new star of the blue bloc, meanwhile, is the extreme right party Nye Borgerlige, which picked up four mandates, while the even-more right-wing Stram Kurs came within a whisker of winning its first ever mandate, less than two months after it was officially endorsed as a party.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen was the new broom
Photo: World Economic Forum
An outfoxed PM, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, made a last-gasp attempt to reach across the divide to his foe, but Frederiksen was having none of it. At the time of going to press she was busy forming a government with the support of Radikale, SF and Enhedslisten – but none of them are expected to feature in what will be most likely a S minority cabinet.
21
PRAISE THE FLAG! TALLINN TRIP TAKES TALLY UP TO 800 YEARS AND COUNTING PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD WORDS: BEN HAMILTON
They were arriving by land, air and sea for the festivities in the Estonian capital of Tallinn to mark the 800th anniversary of the Dannebrog, the iconic Danish national flag, which according to legend fell from the sky to inspire the red and whites to victory in the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219. The birth had repercussions for the Estonians as well as Taani-linn means ‘Danish town’ in the local language
No prizes for guessing who the yacht belonged to. Queen Margrethe was the guest of honour at a whole weekend’s worth of events to commemorate the anniversary of the 1219 battle (of which a full account can be found in this week’s Diplomacy Magazine)
Upon the queen’s arrival on Saturday June 15, she was met by Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid (left) and taken through the rose gardens of the Kadriorg Art Museum. Also present were Anders Samuelsen (centre right), the outgoing foreign minister, and Kristina Beckvard (right), the Danish ambassador to Estonia
There was something a little paganesque about the dance that greeted her majesty to Freedom Square, after which the performers handed over a commemorative flag 22
The queen then visited a number of different exhibitions relevant to the anniversary before ending her first day in Tallinn at a state banquet at Arvo Pärt Centre
The queen then met the only person in Estonia who believes that old baloney
Among the Danish dignitaries present on the trip were Uffe Ellemann Jensen, the former leader of Venstre and foreign minister, and his wife (both pictured), along with Carlsberg chair Flemming Besenbacher
There was no mistaking the symbolism with the Estonian president dressed in splendid white and Queen Margrethe in radiant red, as they stood in front of C A Lorentzen's famous painting of the birth of the Dannebrog at the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219
The shield bearing the Dannebrog marks the very spot where the flag fell from heaven. Today it can be found in the Danish King’s Garden 23
ROYAL CIRCLES
PRINCE JOACHIM AT 50:
SALUTING FIVE DECADES OF DEDICATION TO DENMARK
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
AFather, farmer, polyglot, patron, daring racecar driver, dutiful son of Denmark, tank squadron commander, TV voiceover provider – no, not the wedding vows in ‘Game of Thrones’ but the multiple strings to the bow of Prince Joachim’s extraordinary life, which now spans five whole decades following his 50th birthday on June 6. Just one year and 12 days younger than his brother Crown Prince Frederik, His Royal Highness Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, Prince of Denmark, 24
Count of Monpezat – who is sixth in line to the Danish throne (and around 220th to the British!) – can look back with pride on a half-century of propriety, prolificacy and passionate endeavour. Although not quite as large-scale as the celebrations of his brother’s 50th birthday last year, June has been a lively month full of tributes to the prince, including a special charity concert at Bellevue Teater on June 7, which was open to the public, and a special banquet hosted by his mother, the queen, at Amalienborg.
A DIFFICULT ROLE Like his brother, he has given his mother four grandchildren – Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix with his first wife Alexandra, and Prince Henry and Princess Athena with his current partner, Princess Marie – and years of service to his nation. Unlike his brother, the heir to the Danish throne, his role has not always been as well defined. For many years, he was second in line to the throne – a job that cynics the world over like to label the‘just-in-case
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
spare’, even though on occasion Joachim was the de facto ruler of Denmark when his mother and brother were abroad.
But with his brother’s children fast approaching adulthood, his public persona’s visibility, duties and overall importance will diminish, allowing his private persona the freedom to emerge from behind the facade and blossom.
SOLDIERING AND FARMING After seeing out his formative years at the prestigious private school Krebs,Joachim boarded in France for his mid-teen afterschool sojourn before completing his education at a gymnasium in Hellerup in 1986. He spent most of his gap year on a farm in Wagga Wagga in Australia, before going on to distinguish himself in the Danish military, joining the Queen's Life Regiment in 1987. A year later he was appointed to the role of sergeant before moving up through the officer ranks to the position of platoon commander of a tank squadron and then captain. After leaving the army, he studied agricultural economics from 1991 to 1993, at which point he began to cultivate the land of Schackenborg, an estate and castle he inherited in 1978. Meanwhile, a brief career with Maersk between 1993 and 1995 took him overseas to work in Hong Kong and France. Since then he has divided his time between his royal duties, raising his children, his military career and Schackenborg – which he eventually handed over to a foundation in 2014, of which he is the patron. He is also the patron of many other good causes and organisations, including the Danish Rugby Union and the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix,in which he competes every year without fail.
Q
Photo: Hasse Ferrold
The confusion over his role has often led to criticism, and at times it has been harsh – normally the result of misunderstanding and his perceived inability to connect with people in the effortless manner of his brother.
BRIGHT PROSPECTS AHEAD Later this year, Prince Joachim is returning to France, the land of his father, to study military leadership education at the prestigious Ecole Militaire as a guest of the country’s defence minister. The studies will advance credentials that have seen him work for Danish Defence as a special consultant since 2015. Furthermore, in the same year he was appointed colonel of the reserve army. The year-long studies beckon a bright future for the prince in defence and security policy, with a high-level career at an international organisation a distinct possibility.
CLOSER TO THE PUBLIC That’s providing a career in television or as an outright historian doesn’t come first. This autumn, thousands of Danes will sense something familiar about the voice of the narrator of an ambitious DR series, which over six episodes will tell the story of Denmark. The prince is fulfilling a fascination in history and archaeology inherited from his mother to realise his dream of making a meaningful account of the country that means so much to him. In collaboration with producer Anna von Lowzow from Nordisk Film, the documentary series will not so much focus on the chronology of Denmark, but its pillars and very fabric. For his people, it will be a chance to meet the man behind the title – a prince who has come to terms with his role, confident now to share a more nuanced Count Holstein wearing the insignia of the German Johanniter order persona than the media and public have hitherto credited him with. 25
BY HASSE FERROLD
ABOUT TOWN
The diplomatic corps were out in force at a reception to celebrate the Iranian National Day on February 11 at the country’s embassy, where ambassador Morteza Moradian welcomed a special guest, the artist Majid Hoseini. Among those present were (left-right) Palestinian ambassador A Alhourani, Bangladeshi ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhit, Turkish ambassador Uğur Kenan İpek, South Korean ambassador Choi Jai-Chul, Armenian ambassador Alexander Arzoumanian, Brazilian ambassador Carlos Paranhos and Mexican ambassador Carlos Pujalte
A great many members of the diplomatic corps gathered at the Polish Embassy in Hellerup on May 7 to celebrate the country’s Constitution Day. Among those gathered were (left-right) Serbian ambassador Jasmina Mitrovic Maric, Indian ambassador Ajit Vinayak Gupte, Polish ambassador Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, Italian ambassador Luigi Ferrari and his wife, Albanian ambassador Elida Petoshati and Finnish ambassador Vesa Vasara
Argentina celebrated its national day at the residence of ambassador Conrado Solari (left) in Hellerup on May 23 with a fine reception that included a display of tango dancing. Among those present were (left-right from centre left) Moroccan ambassador Khadija Rouissi, Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said and Bulgarian ambassador Svetlan Stoev
Georgia celebrated its national day with a concert on May 23 at Marmorkirken – ‘Shavnabada’, a program of polyphonic music performed by the State Ensemble of Abkhazia – and then a reception on May 24. Among the guests of ambassador Gigi Gigiadze (centre right) at his embassy in Vesterbro were Hungarian ambassador Kristof Altusz (second right)
US ambassador Carla Sands (left) was among the guests at the celebrations of the Greek national day at the residence of ambassador Efthalia Kakiopoulou (right) on March 25
Bangladeshi ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhit was the proud host of his country’s national day celebrations at his residence on March 26
26
Among the 82,000 people who participated in the second edition of the Royal Run on Monday in four cities in Denmark – Aarhus, Aalborg, Copenhagen, and Rønne on the island of Bornholm – were UAE ambassador Fatema Khamis Almazrouei and Hans Hermansen, CEO of the Copenhagen Post. In this year’s event, 60 percent of the participants were women and one-third had never run in a race before. It has been confirmed it will return next year
South Korean ambassador Choi Jai-Chul is bidding farewell to these shores. A great many members of the diplomatic corps paid their respects at his residence in Charlottenlund on May 20, including Slovenian ambassador Edvin Skrt, Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said, Romanian ambassador Mihai-Alexandru Gradinar, [Choi and his wife] and Vietnamese ambassador Pham Thanh Dung
Serbia celebrated its national day on February 21 at University Library Amager, where those in attendance witnessed the inauguration of Serbian ambassador Jasmina Mitrović Marić’s initiative, ‘The Diplomatic Library’ – a collection many members of the Copenhagen diplomatic corps have contributed to
South African ambassador Zindziswa Mandela (centre) assumed cake-cutting duties at the celebration of her country’s national day at Miklagaard Café & Steakhouse in Nordvest on April 26. As well as a large number of ambassadors, many black female South African winemakers were in attendance to show off the wares of their country
Swiss ambassador Benedikt Wechsler (centre right) is leaving Denmark to take up a position as the consul general in San Francisco from July. He took the opportunity to say goodbye on the closing day of 3daysofdesign 2019
Regular readers of Diplomacy magazine will be sad to learn that Carsten Dencker Nielsen, the honorary chairman of Asia House, has passed away. Nielsen was interviewed in Issue 4 27
NEW IN TOWN PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD WORDS: STEPHEN GADD
Diplomacy Magazine would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new ambassadors who have arrived in Denmark since the spring
Chile: Isauro Torres Negri holds a law degree from the University of Chile. During his diplomatic career he has served in the US, Austria, Peru, the UK (as DCM) and as ambassador to New Zealand. Prior to being designated to Denmark he was Director for environment and ocean affairs at the MFA in Chile and for that reason he is particularly interested in the climate change agenda and Denmark’s participation in the upcoming COP25 in Chile in December
China: Feng Tie has held a number of diplomatic posts, starting in 1986-89 when he was an attachĂŠ at the Chinese embassy in Syria. He later served several stints at the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs. From 2000-2001 he was deputy secretary and a standing member of the CPC Wuwei Municipal Committee of Gansu Province. Other postings abroad include service in the UK and Australia. Feng presented his credentials to the queen on June 3 The Philippines: An economist and lawyer by training, Leo M Herrera-Lim is a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience. He has been a delegate to the UN, WTO, World Bank, ASEAN, APEC and other bilateral/multilateral convention/meetings. Prior to being appointed ambassador to Denmark, he also served as chair to the ASEAN Commission on Human Rights. Previous postings include Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and London
Russia: Vladimir Barbin graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1979 and has been in his country's diplomatic service since. He served three terms at the Russian embassy in Finland and in 2002-2006 he was posted to Sweden. Promoted ambassador, Barbin served from 2009-2014 in Ghana. He was ambassador at large with responsibility for Arctic policy and international co-operation in the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs until he assumed his duties as ambassador to Denmark in February 2019 28
Vietnam: Pham Thanh Dung holds a master's degree in international relations. He has had a long diplomatic career, spanning almost 30 years. Dung has held a number of different positions in Viet Nam's Diplomatic Academy. He was ambassador to Myanmar from 2013-2016 before being appointed ambassador to Denmark, where he is also responsible for Iceland
BY HASSE FERROLD
ABOUT TOWN
He may be British, but the Danes have a special affinity for Shakespeare – not least due to the setting of ‘Hamlet’ at Kronborg Castle. For over a century, the annual Shakespeare Festival (August 1-23) at the castle has featured Shakespearean performances by companies from all over the world, starring some of the all-time greats. While Copenhagen’s finest – including Ian Burns and Benjamin Stender – are on show in the castle’s immersive theatre production ‘Hamlet Live’ (ongoing until August 31), which is back for a fourth successive year with scenes played out in the actual places that the Bard imagined them happening
Every year the Golden Days Festival (September 8-23) takes us on an exploration through history, and this year’s focus is the fall of the Berlin Wall, 30 years after it came down. If fun by the city waters is more your thing, you can’t go wrong with the Thai Festival in Islands Brygge (July 6) or the Copenhagen Harbour Festival (August 24-26), which offers activities, games, music, dancing and water sports galore. Finally, combining both is the Malmö Festival (August 9-16), an event that fittingly bridges music, art, food and culture to reflect the essence of the city. With over 1.4 million visitors a year, it is the largest culture festival in Scandinavia
The Frederikssund Viking Village is putting on its annual Viking Games (ongoing since June 21, ends July 14) to once again give visitors a glimpse of life during the Viking Age. The games, which will include a theatrical performance recreating the culture, traditions and history of the Vikings, have since their debut in 1952 proved popular with all ages
The summertime jazz festival is returning, bringing nine days of music and events. Embracing hundreds of venues, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival (July 5-14) is celebrating its 40th edition and has long held the distinction of being one of Europe’s most reputable jazz festivals. Meanwhile, the nearby Valby Summer Jazz will run concurrently
Let classical music provide the perfect soundtrack to your stroll through the classy city centre this summer. Enjoy classical and modern compositions at the Copenhagen Summer Festival (July 28-August 8), showcase the most exciting young talents on the classical scene today
The Copenhagen Opera Festival (August 1-10) will again be spreading world-class arias across the streets, canals, transport routes and buildings of the city. Once again the organisers have put together a line-up consisting of both established and new opera acts 29
CONTINENTAL CUISINE CELEBRATION ON AFRICA DAY
So long a staple of Frederiksberg City Hall, the 2019 edition of Africa Day relocated to the offices and rooftop terraces of NJORD Law Firm in the city centre, and once again there was a huge turnout from the diplomatic corps – not just from the African embassies, but from further afield too Among those in attendance were (left-right) Saudi ambassador Fahad Alruwaily, Polish ambassador Henryka Moscicka-Dendys, Algerian ambassador Ali Benzerga, Cuban ambassador Yiliam Sardinas Gomez, Moroccan ambassador Khadija Rouissi, South African ambassador Zindzi Mandela, WOMAN, Estonian ambassador Mart Volmer, Niger’s ambassador Amadou Tchéko, Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said, Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin, NJORD Law Firm partner Anders Wørsoe, and Benin’s ambassador Eusebe Agbangha
Niger’s ambassador Amadou Tchéko, the current dean of the African diplomatic corps and a strong contender to become overall dean once Icelandic ambassador Benedikt Bjarki Jonsson leaves these shores this summer, addressed those present
Instead of crafts and wares, the focus this year was very much cuisine, and the participating embassies had food stalls on the rooftop terrace, offering guests the chance to sample their national food. Burkina Faso’s ambassador Maria-Goretti Agaleoue (fifth left) oversaw proceedings at her country’s stall
Ghana was confident that it had some of the most mouthwatering delicacies on display. It’s hard to know which dish to try first
Anyone for a famous South African braai! Ambassador Zindzi Mandela (second right) was in no doubt which country cooks the best steak
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A DIPLOMATIC UPBrINGING
QMeeTing HARNESSING PRIVILEGEnobel INTO CHANGE AND a FUTUre prize
DEALING WITH CULTURAL IDENTITY ISSUES winner anD learning langUages Since then, I have been studying in California, but
largely ignored but very present in every town and
regularly visited Uganda and Ethiopia.
city across the country.
Living in foreign countries as a child is a very
cph post interviewed antonio cascias whose father, although now retired, served as a diplomat for his country.
Q
What life lessons could be learned from being complex and■ multi-layered Thea clearest Life as the thing. child of diplomat can be the child was of engaging and fulfilling and has condiplomats? and most direct difficulty hadoftouncertainty, face was living isolating and Ifull putting It made tributed to the person I've become today;I me realise how privileged and fortunate in a completely different culture. Every I young was from a strain on friendships and time forcing understanding that perhaps our approach a very early age. Even as a fifth grader, arrived in apeople new country, I immediately felt like to adapt quickly to new cultural it’s diffi may cultnot notbe to the pickoptimum up on thatone. when you pass an outsider.environments I was constantly learning about the and languages. a township with thousands of one-room shacks intricate daily aspects of a culture and then putting
my observations into practice in order to shake off in which countries did your parents the feeling of being an outsider. It was a gradual serve?
lifesheets lessons could beyour learned madewhat of metal every day on way to the from being the child of an ambassamulti-million-dollar complex that is your school.
dor? very real is economic process every time, but(where once I Ifelt fully accustomed Belgium was born ), USA, Den-It opened Life my as aeyes sonto ofthe a diplomat a very problems that exist in not only third world countries, to it, we moved again! I felt like I was losingrepublic. track mark, the Netherlands, Czech privileged one – and can at times be of the American part of me the more time I spent what country did they represent? away from the United States. Portugal. However, I was privileged enough to be able to see
Barrett Fischer learnt from an early age how to embrace new cultures, and his experiences abroad have added tremendously to his character BY ROBERT EYFJORD Exposure to extreme poverty in developing countries made Barrett Fischer realise how his life of privilege and his social concern could be turned into effective action. It may even propel him into a career in public service.
life as a son of a Which countries have your parents served in? diplomat is a very My parents have served in the United States, Peru, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia.one My mother–is moving to privileged South Sudan in September 2019, where she will work for a and atmytimes year before moving can to Egypt with father. be didsuperficial. What country they represent?
Q Q Q Q
They both work for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). My father has served as head contracting officer for USAID, while my mother has been a mission director in Uganda and Ethiopia.
What years were they active? My parents worked for USAID since before I was born in 1997, but started serving abroad when we moved to Lima from Washington DC in 1999. Did you accompany them overseas? What was it like to be a foreigner there? I accompanied them for most of my childhood. When I was 16 I went to the Webb Schools of California for my final two years of high school while my parents remained in Kampala.
but also in communities all over the world. It made superficial. One should measure one's me appreciate howtoimportant it is totoensure words prior voicing them avoid my any interactions with the foreign communities I was misinterpretation. constantly part of were not harmful.
and experience parts of each culture that others what years were they active? who is the most famous person you Seeing other similarly-privileged foreigners as are unaware of. Having these experiences during Antonio’s father was Portugal’s ambassahave shaken hands with? myself takeat advantage of these communities to smiles all around. High school graduation in 2016 the American International myJubilant childhood was crucial to becoming the person I dor to Denmark from 1986 to 1991. Meeting Queen Mother juliana of Riyadh further enrich themselves showed me how people amSchool, today. For that I am grateful, and happy to have Orange-Nassau and her husband Prince with power can severely harm poorer communities. had such a unique and adventurous childhood. Did you ever accompany your parents Bernhard – their warmth and humanity It also made me believe the advantages that come were visible during that encounter. And abroad? if so, what was it like to be a When did you graduate and what have you been with power and privilege can – and should – be josé ramos-Horta – at the time, his foreigner there? up to since? used to help those need, as independence my parents andin approach to in achieving It was a great experience living abroad. I graduated from the Webb Schools of California in USAID attempt to do. East Timor through non-violence and the I didn't feel like a foreigner, yet naturally 2016 and enrolled at Pitzer College in Claremont, people's self-determination was inspiraabsorbed different cultures and lifestyles, What is the most memorable story you California. I am currently working with the protional. Later, he was awarded the Nobel with respect for the views voiced. Learnremember from your time abroad? duction team of the Women’s World Cup for FOX Peace Prize. ing the basics of the local languages and I used to bike around Kampala a couple of hours Sports. Later this summer, I will be working for making friends of diverse background every Sunday afternoon. I would always see many Sports For Learning, a company that provides sum-
Q
mer and after-school soccer and STEM programs
locals on the street and usually they would smile
for young children in lower-income areas.
and wave at me as I rode by. One Sunday, I passed
Q Q
What are you currently studying? I am currently entering my fourth and final year where I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree with a major in economics and a minor in Spanish. I studied abroad in Seville last semester.
a group of several young schoolgirls, who must have been less than ten years old. I gave them my routine smile and wave, but was surprised when they countered with scowls. As I rode by, one of them yelled: “Get out of our country!” In sheer discomfort I started to pedal
What are some of your hobbies and interests? Unsurprisingly, I love to travel and experience new things whenever possible. I am also a huge fan of football/soccer and I’ve played competitively in every country I’ve lived in. I also love to read classic American literature and watch classic American films – perhaps as a way to connect more to a culture I spent so much time away from.
away faster while the yells continued behind me. I
Do you have any career aspirations? I would like to have a career in aiding lower-class communities in the United States through economic programs and development. I think the economic problems these communities face every day are
Uganda were doing was to help communities like
Q
Graduating from the English college in Prague
Q
kept thinking about what they had said afterwards. I had just started feeling like I was fitting in and finding a routine. That taught me a hard lesson: that I am not well-received by everyone because I am a foreigner. I started to think about their perspective: that perhaps not all the work foreign organisations in theirs; perhaps some of it was worsening their situation. That group of schoolgirls served me the hardest lesson of my life with one line, and I’m glad they did.
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