DK Diplomat Magazine May Issue by Dk Diplomat

DK DIPLOMAT For The Modern Diplomat

May Issue - 2015

Bicycling in

Denmark

How

Denmark became a

Cycling Nation ADVODAN

Buying Property

I COULD SING 20 SECONDS,

AND SPEAK FOR TWO HOURS, AND THE ONLY THING PEOPLE WOULD REMEMBER IS THE 20 SECONDS OF SONG. Ambassador’s View p. 6

For a night to remember, dine at Alberto K at the Royal, our gourmet restaurant on the 20th floor offering breathtaking views and fine Scandinavian produce. Naturally, the interior is inspired by the original design by Arne Jacobsen.

Tel: +45 33 42 61 61 www.alberto-k.com Please note that table reservation in advance is recommended â&#x20AC;&#x201C; dining only

SHOP IN COMFORT

SAVE IN STYLE Fisketorvet – Copenhagen Mall is one of Denmark’s premier shopping malls. It offers more than 100 shops, 10 restaurants, free wifi – and great deals for diplomats! To get a free voucher you can use in selected shops, simply find the Information Desk on Level 1 and show your ID. Find us here: Kalvebod Brygge 59 · 1561 Cph V · fisketorvet.dk

Preface The plans for a UN City in Copenhagen were born in 2002, and the location at Marmormolen was selected in 2005. Campus 1 on Marmormolen currently accommodates about 1,300 staff members from all ten agencies. Campus 2, located by the container port, constitutes UNICEF’s new state of the art high bay warehouse and is currently the largest humanitarian warehouse in the world. The UN City is platinum LEED certified and has been awarded European Commission’s Green Building Award for New Buildings. The building also houses the secretariat of GPHS (Green Procurement in the Health Sector), a joint effort by five UN agencies to reduce the health sector’s environmental burden through a new global initiative. Out of the many agencies this beautiful building house, it also accommodates UNOPS. We have had the honor to talk to the Executive Director of UNOPS Ms. Grete Faremo in this issue, head over to the Ambassador’s view and read more about her life and work. We would like to thank our readers for the feedback we have received; we hope that you will continue to notify us, we are always very pleased to receive any suggestions or feedback that could assist us with the next issues. - DK Diplomat

Contents Page 06 Ambassador’s View H.E. Ms. Faremo Page 12 Bicycling In Denmark Five things to know before bicycling in denmark Page 16 Back to Basics Page 13 Natural Born Riders Danish Bicycle Culture and Happiness

www.dkdiplomat.dk

Page 22 How Denmark became a cycling nation Page 24 Buying property in Denmark Page 27 Upcoming National day: May Page 30 Expat Tales Interview with Diplomat

Colophon DK Diplomat Magazine Year 1, No. 4, May 2015 Publisher DK Diplomat Editor-In-Chief Jonathan S. Niyonkuru

DK Diplomat Online

Page 20 Crime Passionnel

Contributors Sharmi Albrechtsen Charlie Petersen Art Direction Jayden Designs Eman Hussein Suwadi Frederik Isak Petersen

/dkdiplomatcopenhagen

Communications Manager Susan Søbye info@dkdiplomat.dk

/DKDiplomat

Sales for advertising sales, please contact: annonce@dkdiplomat.dk

DK Diplomat Magazine is the first and only magazine in Denmark dedicated to employees attached to an embassy or international organizations. The online versions of the magazine can be found for free at www.dkdiplomat.dk The editors do their best to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine. However mistakes and omissions are, regrettably possible. We are Not Responsible For and Do Not Necessarily Hold the Opinions Expressed by Our Content Contributors. DK Diplomat Magazine Kongelundsvej 292, 2770 Kastrup www.dkdiplomat.dk info@dkdiplomat.dk

HAVE your nExT

ConfErEnCE AT THE wATErfronT In THE HEArT of CopEnHAGEn

Do you LoVE wHEn Luxury IS In foCuS AnD EVEryTHInG juST worKS? AnD wHEn SuBLIME SErVICE IS AT pLACE – EVEry TIME? • Large congress hall with room for 250 persons

• View of the harbor and direct access to the waterfront

• Break area of 200 sqm included when renting the Congress Hall

• Suited for conferences, General Meetings, press conferences, sales kickoffs, company events etc.

Contact us on +45 3318 4664 or email booking@ida.dk for a guided tour or visit our website www.idamødecenter.dk and let us prove to you that good service still exists :-)

IDA Conference Centre Kalvebod Brygge 31-33 DK-1780 Copenhagen V Tel: +45 3318 4664 E-mail: booking@ida.dk

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

AMBASSADOR’S VIEW INTRO : UNOPS origins trace back to 1973, and until 1994 the Office for Project Services was part of UNDP. By decision of the General Assembly, UNOPS became a separate, self-financing entity within the UN development system on 1 January 1995. UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. UNOPS, aims to help partners maximize the positive impact and sustainability of their projects, to better serve communities in need. In this interview we have the honor to talk with The Executive Director of UNOPS Ms. Grete Faremo. She joined UNOPS as Executive Director in August 2014. Before this appointment, Ms. Faremo held various senior-level positions for the Government of Norway. Most recently, she was Minister of Justice and Public Security; a role she held for two years. During her first appointment as Minister of Justice, Ms. Faremo initiated negotiations between Schengen member countries and Norway on security and free movement in Europe.

DK Diplomat: Thank you for having us Ms. Faremo. You’ve just started in august 2014, was it a big transition from Norway to Denmark? Which challenges did you have to overcome? Grete: First, I welcome you on my 100th day in Office! DK: That’s wonderful news congratulations! Grete: I think it’s today, 100 days have gone since I joined. For me to come to UNOPS, felt like in a way like coming home, because if you read my background you can see that I have been working on development cooperation for so many years. Actually after I finished my law degree, I started after a year or so to work with the Norwegian agency for development cooperation. In addition, I was minister of development cooperation for two years. Moreover, I have been chairing the board of the Norwegian people’s aid and on the board of the Afghanistan help, so both from an NGO perspective and professionally, I have been deeply engaged in development cooperation, working with private sector as well as politics, I mean where can you get it all, it’s in UNOPS. I think I can add value because, UNOPS already focus on efficient business processes, how can we actually help people in need, better. By providing professional services of high quality in time and at the agreed price. This is I think very important for development that we are able to do that. DK: Do you have to administer the resources that you have if understand it right, more efficiently? G: Because we are fully self-financed, we only get things to do when we’re

able to partner with organizations or countries, governments or private sector, because they see that we can add value. We do not get donations free. You asked if it was a challenge to relocate to Copenhagen. DK: Yes? G: I mean Copenhagen is so close to Oslo and Norway that i think it was quite easy, even though there are small differences. The city is actually providing us with so many opportunities; it has been a great experience. DK: I have read a little bit about your past in politics and it said you initiated negotiation between Schengen member countries on free movement, can you tell us what you have learned from that experience, I can imagine the many challenges you must have faced. G: We are back in 1994, and Norway voted no, we didn’t want to join the EU, and as a minister of justice, I was challenged by my prime minister, how can you do good to Norway in that position and do better than before. So I immediately knew that Norwegians were used to travel freely among all the countries in Scandinavia, we actually have a passport union together since 1996. And with the Schengen cooperation, we could foresee that some Nordic countries would like to join, some others may perhaps not be allowed to join, so it would actually split the Nordics, and that would be very bad to the Norwegians citizens if that happened. So even if we voted no to the EU membership I was totally convinced that we needed it to con-

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

tinue and expand the free movement. Denmark at that time had joined EU but made reservation on the third pillar about justice and police cooperation, so I went to my Danish colleague and said. Let’s work together to join Schengen. The Norwegians and the Danes will not understand if we split, in our approach to free movement, and by the way if Norway dares to join Schengen I think even Denmark would dare to join the Schengen cooperation, and we need to have the Swedes along because you know the border between Norway and Sweden, is very long. We will not be able to control that border because Norwegians and Swedes have already for a 1000 years passed that border. So let’s build a strategy where it’s not possible for Schengen to say no to Norway even if we’re not members of EU. So the obstacles was off course to convince the Schengen countries that this was the right thing to do. They had already established a peace cooperation, Europol. They were supposed to provide security even with the free movement. So I invited the head of Europol with me to the border of Norway and Russia and said, the reason you should allow Norway and Sweden to join Schengen is because here you see the best controlled border between what would then be the outer border of Schengen with a third country Russia. There is no border in Europe, perhaps in the world that is under better control, so you actually need Norway as a member of Schengen and you cannot deny Sweden access to Schengen, and if you allow Sweden, you will have like a Swiss cheese to the outer border with Norway, so you actually need to bring us along. It was tactics and Norway joined Schengen together with Sweden, Denmark and Finland. DK. Incredible story! G: It was actually to be able to tell the story about what the Nordics was about, that enabled us to join that cooperation even if we weren’t EU members. DK: Where there any problems with other Schengen countries, were there any hesitation to include you.

G: It was actually interesting because the Netherlands, smaller Benelux countries, didn’t want Norway to join. Not because they did not like Norway but they wanted to deepen the cooperation so they were afraid that if Norway joined if would be a more superficial cooperation. So at the end when I had convinced the Spanish, Portuguese, and the French that this was the right thing to do, my best ally was the German minister. I still remember in the room of negotiating ministers, it’s very rarely minister’s that negotiate, normally it’s the civil servants we only do the signing. But we negotiated politically, and I still remember when the German minister, leaned over to the Dutch minister and said ”now it’s time for us to go talk” and they had a private lunch and he came back with the Dutch minister and they said, we are ready to accept Norway into the Schengen cooperation. This is a story for my book, for the memories I am never going to tell haha! DK: But you should, you have an incredible story in politics and you have a great list of accomplishments. Now every country in Europe I am sure can agree it was the best thing to do to open up the borders and allow free movements. Grete : I think free movement, Even if it has a lot of challenges, it’s very important to families who travels on holidays, to visit friends, trade, I mean think about all the trade between Denmark and other European countries. If not for the agreement, there would have been costly barriers and I do not think that in 2014 we would have understood that every time we needed to cross a border we needed to show many documents. DK: Thankfully, the younger generation don’t know how it used to be back then. DK: Do you have any hobbies? G: yeah, That is a very important and challenging question to someone who is used to work too much for so many years, but actually I am a singer. I have

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

been singing a lot in my life. I started out as a pop singer and developped into a rock singer, Pete does not know this (red. Peter Brown, Communications Manager who was present at the interview). I have done a lot of Edith Piaf, musicals and cabarets. DK: Do you have any songs on the internet? Grete: You may find some, but after I became a politician I found out that I could sing 20 seconds, and speak for two hours, and the only thing people would remember is the 20 seconds of song. That’s a very challenging thing, I didn’t do it much but I stepped down as a politician in 1997, I came back in 2009 and in that period I actually won the Norwegian, I don’t know what it’s called here but it was the music chart, where the most played songs on the radio are listed every week. I was number one 8 weeks in a row. DK: Congratulations when was that? Grete: I think in 2001-2002. DK: Which song was that? Grete: It was en balade (red. A balad), together with the rock singer I used to sing with back in the 70’s. They invited me in the studio to do a duet. DK: Do you still sing? Grete: Yes I do but more in private sessions now. DK: That is wonderful! Grete: I actually sang, on my first day at UNOPS, I did that. Peter brown: It was before my arrival, but I heard the tale and I didn’t realize it was a chart topping song. DK: I would have loved to hear your performance, I will look for it on the internet. What are the most pressing elements of an Executive Director’s job? Grete: It will always be how we best can help people in need. How we most efficiently can accomplish the goals that we have set forth, and that are under our mandate. Our mandate covers projects, infrastructure and project management,

as well as procurement. Therefore, we work with partners every day to reach people in need. So to come back to your questions it would be setting the right priorities, make sure that we deliver quality and of course, our work processes are efficient. I think this is always a top manager big challenge. DK: It sounds like you have to manage a business or a company. Grete: Well we apply many of the processes known in the private sector, when it comes to quality, efficiency and transparency as well. However, we are still non-profit organization, still a part of the UN family. We off course abide by the values the UN has adopted. I am frankly very proud to be the CEO or as it is the executive director of UNOPS. DK: Rightfully so, Can you tell us a bit about the UNOPs and the services that you provide? Grete: Yes, Talking about infrastructure, you can just go into Copenhagen and see how important roads are, its communications, schools, health all these sectors that are so vital for a country’s well-functioning. We can provide services in that sector and off course procurement, all the different equipment that is needed in projects or if someone needs us to provide cars, whatever kind of product, we can acquire and deliver it. And project management, we work with other organizations and help them succeed in their projects. We can manage their personnel and provide IT services so they can concentrate on their core business and we can help them with services to help run their organizations! DK: I have read that UNOPS have taken some steps to become more transparent, how did the initiative start and which challenges were faced? Grete: I think it’s important to be transparent to be efficient, because when you show your numbers, you show what needs to be discussed, and by discussion you improve. So this is very important, and we started very much with the auditors so to us it’s obvious the auditor’s reports should

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

be put out in the open, and if you look at our website when we do projects, we documents how the projects were implemented and that’s also assisted by numbers. We have tried different methods and I think through the transparency initiative, Pete can help you showing you which initiative I am talking about. We hosts actually, an initiative that was build some years ago to help transparency and methods. We work in different manners to become more transparent. DK: There’s a lot of big organizations that don’t put importance on being transparent, but I think it’s important especially if you’re a big organization like the UN or UNOPS. Grete: I think so as well, in the public, private sector, in politics and working as an employee, I have been in all different places where on the inside you feel quite comfortable about what you are doing and the way you do it. On the outside there are questions, and transparency can take away a lot of the rumors, worries and it can most of all help you improve your own services, I would say that the circle of transparency is a very healthy way of developing

your own processes and results. DK: Did the organization become better/efficient at establishing projects when it became more transparent? Grete: If you look at UNOPS I think the journey UNOPS have made the last 8 years, is really an adventure, it’s gone from being an organization not delivering on the verge of bankruptcy into a very sound financial organization but also providing much more to both the people in need and to our partners. There are a number of reasons for that but transparency is one of the most important reasons, to why we have been able to improve. When you look at how we have been working also with other organizations to qualify by international standards, both ISO(ISO 9001 certified) and PRINCE2(Foundation and Practitioner certification) and other international recognized standards, this is also a way of being transparent about how you work to build quality in your work stream. Pete will give you a list with the details. DK: Can you tell us a bit about the UN City building?

Grete: It’s a very good example of good cooperation between the host country, the ambitions of the UN and also very skilled architects. We have been working together with other organizations inside the house, and now we are more than 1250 and we will grow to 1500. We have found through our cooperation’s with the other organizations in the house (red. UN City) different ways to cooperate and I think through such cooperation, I mean we are sharing the conference facilities, IT, and other services we do it more efficiently. It’s also helping sustainability you can say. DK: It is a very beautiful building I did not know you had solar panels on the roof. Grete: Yes, we also collect rainwater, which is great since it rains quite often in this beautiful country. It’s actually providing us with all the water we need, for instance for the toilets, it’s really good. DK: Thank you very much for participating in this interview; it’s been an honor and very interesting.

♥♥ ♥ ♥

BØRSEN

POLITIKEN BERLINGSKE

THE DESIGN RESTAURANT IN TIVOLI GARDENS

Delicious food, attentive service and beautiful ceramic designs dating back to 1869 set the scene for exciting and memorable moments.

The guests say: ”Delectable food and very friendly service” ”...Had a wonderful day with sunshine, warmth and delicious food” ”Fantastic waiter, talented and subtle”

www.kahler-i-tivoli.dk • Vesterbrogade 3 • 1630 Copenhagen V • +45 53 73 84 84

Unlimited books: Anytime. Anywhere. With Mofibo you have access to unlimited e-books and audiobooks in all genres. Business books, fiction, thrillers, novels and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books. Read more at www.mofibo.com

Try it

FREE for 14 days

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

BICYCLING IN DENMARK

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BICYCLING IN DENMARK One of the greatest ways to explore Denmark and meet the Danes is to get on a bicycle. Bicycling in Denmark is the number one mode of transportation and also one of the most popular forms of recreation. The bicycle is King of the Road and there are many reasons for that. But before you get on your bike, there are a few things you should know about cycling in Denmark. You probably already know how to ride a bike and the basic safety rules, but there are some specific rules, which apply to cycling in Denmark. Not knowing them can cause you problems and in worse case get you in trouble with the law. Ignorance is not an excuse.

First, let me stress the fact that bicycling is very safe in Denmark due to the many bicycle lanes in the cities and more importantly the laws, which give the bicycle the right over motor vehicles. Motor vehicles must yield to cyclists and give them right of way. The penalties for injuring a cyclist are steep and the rare accident is usually major news. The rare accidents are usually between large trucks, which often have blind spots. Being aware of motor traffic is important. Just because cyclists have the right of way, does not give a cyclist carte blanche - motorists can have problems seeing cyclists! Pay attention when coming in contact with motor traffic - especially at intersections!

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

etiquette like signaling, proper riding techniques and paying attention can cause accidents. Worse can be the berating you will get from other cyclists. Danes are not afraid to tell you did something wrong - especially when it comes to riding a bike.

A few rules that you should be aware of as a cyclist are: 1. You MUST always use the bicycle lane or path if it available. You can only ride on the road if there is no cycle lane or path. Ride on the right side of the road. 2. Obey all traffic signals and laws. Many cycle paths have their own light signals for bicyclists. These signals are just like the regular traffic lights but a bit smaller. They are there to protect the cyclist, so it is vital you obey them. 3. When you want to turn left at an intersection, you ride on the right side of the road, signal your intention to stop, ride through the intersection and stop at the opposite side. There you wait for the light to change and continue across. 4. You must never ride a bicycle on the “walking streets”, sidewalks or pedestrian crossings. You will get fined for such violations. You must get off your bike and walk it. 5. Learn your hand signals for stopping and turning and use them. Also it is advised to ride signal file on the right side of the path. The left side is for passing and you should signal by ringing your bell to let other riders know you are passing. In the city, the bicycle paths are very busy during commuting time and not obeying proper bicycle Article source: Charlie Petersen (www.fyidenmark.com)

You must never ride a bicycle on the “walking streets”, sidewalks or pedestrian crossings.

If you take these simple steps, you will soon learn that bicycling is one of the best ways to explore the cities and country and you will encounter many Danes along the way. At stoplights, you will notice many conversations going on and it is okay to ask for directions and assistance. The Danes are usually quite willing to help another cyclist. For more information on bicycling in Denmark and learning about where to rent a bike, bicycle routes and other important facts about cycling, you can check out http://www.fyidenmark.com/bicycling-in-Denmark.html.

The STOCKHOLM collection is uniquely made in cold enamel and aluminum. It is inspired from the Baltic Sea and the Stockholm Archipelago with a design capturing the ever-changing scenery of the water beautifully. Be seduced by the beauty of STOCKHOLM —available in selected stores or online at www.stelton.com. STOCKHOLM bowl medium £ 130 / Vase large £ 180 / Vase small £ 60 www.stelton.dk · www.steltonshop.dk

Bernadotte & Kylberg is a Swedish design duo, whose design philosophy is to create timeless, iconic and inspiring design.

Nær salten Østerstrand ligger

Et af Danmarks bedste steder at mødes I det arkitekttegnede byggeri ved Østersøen, har vi skabt et miljø med ro og rum til fordybelse, innovative tanker og samtidig plads til bevægelse og samvær. • 13 moderne konference- og mødelokaler med AV-udstyr i topklasse • Kapacitet på op til 135 personer i det største lokale • Masser af hyggekroge og lounge områder • Hjemmelavet mad med fokus på økologi og lokale råvaer • 58 smagfuldt indrettede dobbeltværelser • Sea-side værelser med havudsigt Vi står klar til at forkæle jer under jeres ophold i vores afslappede rammer.

www.Klinten.dk

Tel.: 5650 6800 • mail: info@klinten.dk Søndervej 8 • 4673 Rødvig Stevns

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

BACK TO BASICS head skull eye nose ear mouth neck shoulder shoulder girdle clavicle elbow scapula arm forearm wrist hand fingers torso ribs abdomen back spine pelvis hip thigh bottom knee leg ankle foot toes vertebral column

hoved kraniet øje næse øre mund nakke skulder skulderbæltet kravebenet albue skulderblad arm underarmen håndled hand finger torso / krop ribben maven ryg rygrad bækken hofte lår bund / ende knæ ben ankle fod tæer rygsøjle

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

Natural Born Riders

Danish Bicycle Culture and Happiness

I have a confession: I can’t ride a bike. In Denmark this is embarrassing, since in Copenhagen, one person in three commutes by bike to work or school every day. In my defense for this crime and (my other crime of being a driver of a car in Denmark) – I have to say that in the US, we do not have a bicycle culture, many kids do not ride bikes, there are few to no bike paths in most neighborhoods and we were happy if we had a sidewalk we could walk on. (While drivers whizzed by with a quick look of pity- since people who walked were normally considered homeless). On the other hand, Danes are active cyclists, often using their bikes to commute to work or to go off

on trips at the weekend. And cycling is generally perceived as a healthy, environmentally friendly, cheaper and often quicker way around town than by public transport or car and it is therefore municipal policy for the number of commuters by bike to go up to 40% by 2012 and 50% by 2015. OK, but what does this have to do with the Laws of Jante and Danish Happiness? I have a suspicion that the Danish cycling culture may have a double whammy effect – cycling and exercise in general promotes good health and happiness and as a nice side effect – it helps reduce envy (most people don’t consider their bicycle as a status symbol) and promotes equality as nearly everyone (besides me) can own and ride a bike.

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

Cycling, Sports and Exercise There has been some research on the link between sports participation, exercise and happiness. For example, experiments comparing American and Italian teens showed that people tended to be happiest when engaging in sports and games. (Csikszentmihalyi and Wong 1991).

Again, it is here that perhaps the the laws of jante works again. The laws of jante say ‘Don’t fancy yourself as being better than us’ – ie. Don’t drive your Ferrari here!

More than Cycling In the US, the typical question after you are introduced to someone at a party is ‘what do you do?’ but here it is ‘what There is also significant literature about sports do you do?.’ This is quite a safe physical activity, endorphins and a pos- topic since thanks to a generous social itive effective on mental wellbeing. Fox welfare system, there are a lot of people (1999) found that exercise improves ‘who don’t do anything.’ mental well-being through improved mood and self-perception and is an ef- But the sports topic is endless, at any fective treatment for clinical depression dinner party, airport or café, you can and anxiety. always find a Dane talking about their sports/exercise/routines. They swim, While we all know this is the case, I play handball, softball, mountain bike, think what is the most interesting in cycle, sail, play tennis, badminton, ice the way that the Danish governmental hockey, and golf and they do it well. systems support this. No surprise, where almost two million Being a car owner is like being a cross Danes actively engage in association between vermin and a dairy cow – it’s sports, corresponding to about 40% of really not cool to drive and it comes the Danish population. with a huge tax burden with nearly 200 percent taxes on the car itself, road tax While no research has been done to and gas tax. correlate bicycle riding, sports and exercise with societal subjective well-beCompare that to our cycling friends ing or happiness, I would be surprised who are blessed with a tiny sales tax on if there was not a link. Let’s hope one the bike, no extra bike path tax and of of the happiness scientists look into it, course, no gas tax! Buddha did: Article source: Sharmi Albrechtsen (www.happydenmark.com)

To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. ~Buddha

Treat yourself or your employees... - with wine and specialities

Order wine, specialities and all your groceries online - delivered to your door from DKK 4,- the hour of your choice

For more information, please call +45 7033 7233

We lco m e a t S ø l le rø d K ro

One star in Guide Michelin Open Wednesday to Sunday Lunch and dinner Menus and à la carte Beautiful patio - open when the weather permits 20 minutes north of Copenhagen

Søllerød Kro Søllerødvej 35 DK-2840 Holte Tel +45 45 80 25 05 mail@soelleroed-kro.dk www.soelleroed-kro.dk

All vis your it w gr ww ocer .ne ies ml on ig.c lin om e

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

CRIME PASSIONNEL PARFUMERIE Sponsored article A crime of passion, or crime passionnel, in popular usage, refers to a violent crime, especially murder, in which the perpetrator commits the act against someone because of sudden strong impulse such as sudden rage rather than as a premeditated crime. The term closely relates to philosophical concept of Affect, states of mind and body related to feelings and emotions, of which there are three primary kinds: pleasure or joy, pain or sorrow and desire or appetite. Fragrance Crime Passionnel embodies the three creating a new sensation, unique world of mystic aroma. The themes of the intoxicating world of passion, obsession and murder have been an endless source of inspiration. A thought of the sinful act has stimulated the greatest minds for centuries. Patrick Siiskind, an author of the literary masterpiece Perfume: The Story of the Murderer (1985) explores the sense of smell and its relationship with the emotional meaning that scents may carry. Drawing the inspiration from the novel Crime Passionnel creates the ultimate universe connecting together five bodily senses of hearing, sight, touch, taste, smell combining them into one sensual affair, overwhelming experience, that equals the one of the state of Affect. Recognition. The exclusive sound of the mysterious junction between two contrast words, such as crime and passionnel makes the brand name stand out from other lines. The unusual combination instantaneously catches attention evoking conscious and subconscious associations and therefore creating a bond between the client and the brand. The uniqueness of each interpretation adds to completion of the brand identity. The story behind the murder unfolds through a several mediums, including visual communication, presentations and placing emphasis on the interior. The cinematic nature of the brand identity provokes ideas for film noir setting dicor: dark, downbeat, intense and mysterious. The purposeful connections between the cinema and the product declare the versatility of the product. Crime Possionnel is more than perfume, it’s an image, style, it’s the mood and tone, it’s a point of view.

Settwell Relocation makes the process of relocating to Denmark as seamless as possible Settwell Relocation guarantees a professional relocation process for both the HR division and transferee. While transferee focuses on the job at hand, Settwell Relocation takes care of all relocation details. We take pride in transferee settling in well – every time we are called upon. Call on Settwell Relocation for: • Relocation services • Immigration services • Regional mobility solutions Settwell Relocation has the experience and knowhow for any relocation to turn out right. Settwell Relocation ● Rolighedsvej 9 ● DK-1958 Frederiksberg C ● Phone (+45) 3534 9295 ● info@settwell.dk ● www.settwell.dk

Kragerup & Ko delivers innovative catering, based on inspiration from cuisines around Courses, events and counselling in: • Danish Workplace Culture the world and seasonal produce.

• Communication with Danish Organizations

Everyday our kitchen caters lunch service for several • Social events, sightseeing, wine tastings and more companies in the greater Copenhagen area with focus on health, variation and quality. We help highly-skilled foreign nationals, residing in the Copenhagen

area, get most out of their professional and private lives in Denmark. Hear more on workandlife.dk or (+45)-2711 2111

Go to kragerupogko.dk for inspiration and information about lunch service, catering, parties, receptions etc. or give us a call +45 4466 6672.

PROFESSIONAL STILL / VIDEO

PHOTOGRAPHER

Kragerup & Ko delivers innovative catering, based on inspiration from cuisines around the world and seasonal produce. Everyday our kitchen caters lunch service for several companies in the greater Copenhagen area with focus on health, variation and quality.

COVERING ROYAL, EMBASSY AND OFFICIAL EVENTS ALL OVER Go DENMARK AND SCANDINAVIA to kragerupogko.dk for inspiration and

information about lunch service, catering, parties, receptions etc. or give us a callPHOTOGRAPHER +45 4466 6672. (PF)

OLE BO JENSEN COPENHAGEN +45 61 79 08 20 IMAGEBUREAUET.DK

Go to kragerupogko.dk for inspiration and information about lunch service, catering, parties, receptions etc. or give us a call +45 4466 6672.

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

How Denmark became a cycling nation In the 1960s, cars were threatening to displace bicycles in the main Danish cities. But the oil crisis, the environmental movement and a couple of controversial road projects reversed the trend. This is however just part of the story behind why Danes still cycle so much. By Lotte Ruby, Danish Cyclists Federation Is it possible to cycle in your city? Is it safe? Is it even attractive? If you can answer yes to all three questions, then the cycling culture in your city has good expectations for growth. But often the answers are in the negative, and then the next question is: how did this come about?

when the increasing standard of living slowly but surely made car ownership possible for more and more families. That development was welcomed because cars and single-family houses were vigorous symbols that the depression of the 1930s and the darkness of World War 2 had lifted, and that a brighter future lay ahead.

The answer lies in a city’s historical development, because surprisingly many of the major cities that today are packed with cars actually have a past as cities of bicycles. A journey back into Denmark’s history shows how and why Copenhagen and other Danish cities have managed to maintain a flourishing bicycle culture. The bicycle was invented in the latter half of the 1800s. The first bicycles were quite primitive and somewhat awkward to ride. Nonetheless they soon became the big fashion craze – especially among young men in high society. Bicycles were first used for sport and recreation, but in the late 1800s some more practical types of bicycles gradually came into the market, and the general public, who otherwise had poor access to transport, quickly adopted them. Freedom for all With the bicycle, ordinary men and women suddenly gained much more freedom of movement. The bicycle was their ticket out of the inner city’s cramped tenement houses and into the clean air of the rapidly growing suburbs. In a Danish context, the bicycle has been inextricably linked with freedom ever since. Photographs of urban scenes from the 1930s clearly show how Danish cities became cities of bicycles in the first half of the 1900s. People from all social classes cycled on a large scale and several professions also adopted the bicycle – today cycling postmen and home helpers are still a permanent part of street life. The bicycles’ first heyday lasted for half a century until around 1960,

With the bicycle, ordinary men and women suddenly gained much more freedom of movement.

Decades of headwind But what is a brighter future? The multitude of cars brought not only prosperity but also pollution, congestion and traffic accidents. It can be an eye opener to see photographs from Copenhagen in the 1960s. Many of the areas now treasured by the city’s inhabitants and tourists alike are car-free areas, but in the 1960s they were characterised by dense traffic and car parks. Nyhavn, Strøget and Langelinie are just some examples. Until the 1960s, Copenhagen’s history unfolded in parallel with developments in many other western metropolises. But then a number of things happened which made Copenhagen and several other major Danish cities depart from the beaten track. During the 1960s it became increasingly difficult to turn a blind eye to

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

Summer girls riding their bikes in the 1950s Copenhagen

the many traffic accidents and the growing pollution problem. Copenhagen was no longer the city of bicycles that most Danes knew and loved, and it upset a lot of people. For more than half a century, bicycles had steered their way into the core of Danish self-perception through the visual arts, poetry and music. The cheerful spinning of the wheels and the summery image of a blonde haired girl cycling In the 1930s bicycles took up quite a lot of space on the street scene. 19 through the town – what was the city without this? At the same time the budding environmental movement and the oil crisis greatly helped to shake the dust off cycling culture, which in the 1970s again began to appear in a positive light. The Danish model From the 1970s to the 1980s, several conflicts arose between bicycle and car interests in Danish cities. One example was the wave of popular protests which followed in the wake of a proposal from the Copenhagen authorities to establish a motorway across the lakes which separate the inner city of olden times from the more recent suburban districts. There was an enormous outcry because, then as now, the lakes were some of the city’s loveliest open spaces. Gradually it became clear to most people that the solution to the problems had to be city planning that gave space to cars, bicycles, pedestrians and public transport. Out of this realisation grew the Danish model with its extended network of cycle lanes along the roads, which continues to be further developed. In the last 10 years, new

challenges have emerged. In Denmark, as in other countries, there is a desire to improve public health and combat climate change. In Copenhagen and several other Danish cities it has led to an intensified effort to maintain and strengthen cycling culture. The bicycle is an additional choice Cycling – especially in a wealthy country like Denmark – is for most an active additional choice which can easily change. So the only way forward is to make it safe, easy and attractive to cycle, and that does not happen solely by changing the infrastructure. In Denmark there is a strong tradition for people from all strata of society to cycle. cities. Most Danes associate the bicycle with positive values such as freedom and and health, and in recent years cycling has actually become a symbol of personal energy. The bicycle has become ultramodern again, aided by societal development, successful political initiatives and conscious marketing. The three largest Danish cities – Copenhagen, Århus and Odense – have all carried out large branding campaigns that put cyclists in a positive light on advertising billboards, on the internet and by actively including cyclists in new bicycle projects. The result is an increasing number of cyclists and cleaner, healthier and more lively cities. Today the vision of a pleasant city is different to that of the 1960s. We all want to make space for progress and development. But progress and development in the modern metropolis depends on whether we manage to make it a place where people want to live.

The cheerful spinning of the wheels and the summery image of a blonde haired girl cycling In the 1930s bicycles took up quite a lot of space on the street scene.

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

ADVODAN Toftebæksvej 2 ∙ 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Tlf: 4588 0555 ∙ CVR-nr. 29 24 16 00 www.advodan.dk

Buying property in Denmark In Denmark anyone – at least in principle – can purchase property. In practice however, there are a series of restrictions which apply to some people and companies, which make the business of buying property more difficult. In general, to buy property in Denmark, there is a fundamental requirement that the purchaser is resident in Denmark. If the purchaser is not resident here or has never previously resided in Denmark for an accumulated period of five years, he or she can only acquire property in Denmark with official approval from the Danish Ministry of Justice, regardless of where he or she resided in the past.

Periods of residency can be accumulated provided that they add up to a total residency requirement of five years. If the applicant fails to meet the residency requirement, he or she can only purchase property with Ministry of Justice approval. Nationals of EU Member States, including the EEA can, however, purchase property without meeting the residency requirement. This special regulation should be seen in the light of EU harmonisation measures, among these, provisions which allow EU and EEA

citizens freedom of movement, i.e. including the opportunity to settle in Denmark. In this context, the fundamental condition for circumventing the residency requirement is that the applicant intends to reside permanently in Denmark, i.e. that the property will essentially be the foreign national’s permanent home or that the property is prerequisite for running a business in Denmark. Once a foreign national meets the criteria for purchasing property in Denmark, as purchaser, he or she should be aware of several other requirements and conditions.

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE THE PURCHASE PROCESS In the past, the Danish property market was divided up to the effect that estate agents usually dealt with property sales, while attorneys chiefly dealt with advising purchasers in matters pertaining to property sales. The lines of demarcation are now less distinct as some attorneys are actively involved in selling property and some estate agents now offer clients advice in connection with buying property. An estate agent selling a property is also now legally permitted to settle the property purchase deal, i.e. he may subsequently transfer ownership of the property to the purchaser. This regulation has met with widespread criticism because it creates a situation, which allows the fox to guard the chicken coop. However, estate agents are indeed permitted to transfer ownership as described above. Notwithstanding current conditions, there is a crucial issue that cannot be ignored: It is important that the purchaser ensures that he or she receives proper advice when buying a new home. Such advice is necessary because a regular estate agent in the business of selling property is responsible for ensuring that the vendor makes the best possible sale, i.e. sells the property under the best possible market conditions, including at the best price. As the vendor’s counterpart, the purchaser needs an impartial adviser who can advise on all facets of the purchase, including property financing, etc. As purchaser, when you receive a sale

and purchase contract, it is also important that you are aware that the sale and purchase contract is an important single contract which contains multiple smaller, individual agreements. The information and agreements contained in the sale and purchase contract form the legal basis for transfer of ownership of the property between vendor and purchaser. When entering the contract, it is important that the purchaser ensures that his purchase is optimised and that all the decisive information pertaining to the property is available, including that the conditions, price, etc. stated in the sale and purchase contract are negotiable with a view to optimising the purchase. In this connection it is also important to remember that the contract has usually been drawn up by the estate agent, who has a vested interest in acting in line with the vendor’s best interests. The documents that form a property transaction are often decisive for the parties’ willingness to pursue the process of purchasing the property, for which reason, based on a court decision, many estate agents stipulate that purchase of the property is subject to a proviso: “This contract is contingent upon approval of the contract in its entirety by the purchaser’s legal adviser.” When the parties have agreed to price and conditions for the transfer of ownership of the property, the transfer must be registered digitally. The purchaser’s legal adviser will normally take care of this matter, at least in a purchase situation in which the vendor’s estate agent and the vendor have not stipulated that the vendor’s

Nathalie Isabell Aakjær Advokatassistent / Juridisk sagsbehandler Tel: 45 88 05 55 | E-mail:naia@advodan.dk Dennis Holm Pedersen

Advokat, Partner, Højesteret Tel: 45 88 05 55 | E-mail: dehp@advodan.dk

25 estate agent is to register transfer of ownership. The purchaser is not usually directly involved in the more administrative aspects of the property sale process. However, it is very important that the purchaser ensures, for example, that the insurance conditions regarding the property are in place, including that transfer of ownership insurance is taken out to cover any concealed errors and defects not mentioned in the surveyor’s report (if any – an offer of transfer of ownership insurance may be based on a surveyor’s report). In this case, it will often be beneficial to discuss the matter with your legal adviser to ensure that the insurance package on the property is appropriate and that you can, with confidence, move into the property on the agreed takeover date. Even though the property sales and purchase market, including the legal conditions, is liberalised, the fact remains that every purchaser has a real and pressing need for qualified, legally reliable advice and assistance in connection with buying property. I recommend therefore that the prospective purchaser contacts an attorney who specialises in property law as early in the purchasing process as possible so that the attorney can also assist in preliminary negotiations with the estate agent. Attorney at Law Dennis Holm Pedersen Licensed to act in the Supreme Court Member of Danske BOLIGadvokater® (association of Danish attorneys specialising in property law)

DISCOUNT CODE

10%

ON ALL ORDERS OVER 500 DKK. CODE: DIPLOMAT10 VALID 1 /5-15/5 2015

www.smartbox.dk

MEETINGS AT VILVORDE CONFERENCE HOTEL Time for Reflection. Innovation. Business.

• Meeting facilities for up to 220 pax • 63 well equipped hotel rooms • Ecological based conference restaurant How may we help you? Call us (+45) 3963 7400 · Vilvorde-kursuscenter.dk

UPCOMING NATIONAL DAY

MAY 3 May: Poland - Constitution Day (1791) Capital: Warsaw

• L anguage: Polish (official) 96.2%, Polish and non-Polish 2%, non-Polish 0.5%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 est.) • Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land. • Major trading partners: Germany, France, UK, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Russia, China

8 May: Israel Capital: Jerusalem

• Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic, English • Natural resources: timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand. • Major trading partners: U.S., Belgium, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, UK, China

15 May: Paraguay Capital: Asunción

• Languages: Spanish, Guaraní (both official) • Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone. • Major trading partners: Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, China, U.S.

17 May: Norway Constitution Day (1814) Capital: Oslo

• Languages: Bokmål Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities note: Sami is an official language in nine municipalities • Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower. • Major trading partners: UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, U.S., Sweden, Denmark, China

20 May: Cameroon Capital: Yaoundé

• L anguages: French, English (both official); 24 major African language groups • Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower. • Major trading partners: Spain, Italy, France, U.S., Netherlands, Nigeria, Belgium, China, Portugal

22 May: Yemen Capital : Sanaá

• Language: Arabic • Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, copper, fertile soil in west. • Major trading partners: Thailand, China, UAE, India, South Korea, Switzerland, EU.

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

24 May: Eritrea - Independence Day Capital: Asmara

• L anguages: Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages. • Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish. • Major trading partners: Australia, France, Malaysia, Italy, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, China, Brazil, U.S., Turkey

25 May: Argentina Capital: Buenos Aires

• L anguages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French • Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium. • Major trading partners: Brazil, Chile, U.S., China, U.S., Germany

25 May: Jordan Independence Day (1946) Capital: Amman

• Languages: Arabic (official), English • Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil. • Major trading partners: U.S., Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, Egypt, Lebanon, Italy

26 May: Georgia Independence Day Capital: Tbilisi

• L anguages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azerbaijani 6%, other 7% (Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia) • Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth. • Major trading partners: Turkey, Turkmenistan, Bulgaria, Russia, Armenia, UK, Azerbaijan, Germany, Ukraine, Canada, U.S.

Book & pay

with our taxi app! TAXA 4x35 App is FREE and available in App Store & Google Play. Free WiFi in all our taxis

Copenhagen

go explore visit the rhino calf

Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 32, 2000 Frederiksberg. Opening hours and daily program on www.zoo.dk

DK DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE

EXPAT TALES INTERVIEW WITH A DIPLOMAT Where are you originally from? I’m from the UK. I grew up in the county of Essex but have lived in London on and off since 2000. In which country and city are you living now? I live in Copenhagen, Denmark. How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay? I’ve been here since the end of October 2012. Why did you move and what do you do? Work required me to. Did you bring family with you? My fiancé already has family here but I moved here alone. I am very close with his family though and already consider myself part of it. How are you finding the transition to living in a foreign country? The transition process, unless one is lucky, will naturally have many ups and downs. At first, I had more downs than ups but things are more balanced now and although I still have days where I feel a bit out of it, they are getting fewer as I get used to Denmark. One needs to stay open minded and not constantly compare it to “how things are back home”. Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialize with other expats? I was quite lucky in that I inherited my fiancé’s friends when we moved over and luckily, we all get on well with each other. I know some expats here have experienced difficulties in making friends with Danes; I know that it is more difficult than in other countries but it is not impossible. The Danes have a reputation of being closed and not open however I do somewhat disagree as I do not think it is a case of being close minded, it is more a case that friendships were formed years ago and so there are already close bonds between friends, making friendship groups difficult to infiltrate. From my own point of

view, a friendship is an investment so of course this will take time. I do socialize with other expats but only about once a month now. I have joined a few meet-up groups however so that will soon be more frequent. It is good to have my own ‘thing’ here. What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats? Explore! What I love about Copenhagen is, despite it being a relatively small city, there are nice little “hyggelige” streets where one can find different types of bars and cafés. Although I am not vehemently opposed to the coffee shop chain takeover in the UK, I have to admit it’s nice to have a plethora of independent places that have their own vibe. Copenhagen does have chains too (Baresso, Joe & The Juice) but I much prefer the independents. What do you enjoy most about living here? I love how everyone lives so close together and how there is more of a ‘be with friends’ atmosphere instead of going out to bars. Of course, part of that is the sheer cost of going out drinking but I find it is far more “hyggeligt” to be at a friend’s place for dinner. I love the Danish concept of “hygge”. The best translation is “cosiness” but it’s more than that. To sit with friends or a friend with food, wine and good conversation is hyggeligt. I don’t think I can explain it better than that – it’s something that one will undoubtedly experience living in Denmark. How does the cost of living compare to home? I am a rare breed of expat in Denmark where the cost of living is proving to be a lot cheaper. Of course, there are things here which are more expensive but the biggies, such as travel and rent, are so much lower here. One thing we don’t do as often is eat at restaurants. However as I explained in the previous question, there is more of a be-with-friends-at-home culture here. What negatives, if any, are there to living here? To be honest I try not to look at negatives, as it will only hold me back. If there is a negative or a problem, one

WORLD-CLASS ART AND ARCHITECTURE 2, BERTEL THORVALDSENS PLADS, 1213 COPENHAGEN K OPENING HOURS: TUESDAY-SUNDAY 10 AM - 5 PM

simply has to look for a solution or steps, which will enable one to find a solution. If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be? Start to learn the language before you get here and stay positive! What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far? Probably very common but it’s the language. I’m very good with languages and tend to pick them up fairly easily but when surrounded by native speakers who are speaking quickly it can be overwhelming at times. I’m gaining more and more confidence every day, though! What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following

in your footsteps? 1. Don’t expect your new country to be like it is back home. There are unique quirks from culture to culture and we should respect that. 2. Do your research! I have met a scary amount of expats here who did not research properly prior to coming over and have ended up floundering. Don’t just look at government websites, read blogs by expats in the area you want to live in and visit forums. There will be differing opinions but that is good, as it will give you a more balanced view. 3. Try to learn the language before coming out. 4. Build your network. I use LinkedIn a lot in order to do this however, I wish I had started using it to cyber network with Danes prior to my move. Networking is so important in Denmark. 5. Short but sweet – stay positive.

A personally curated selection of quality goods. Østerbrogade 44 - goodscph.com

We fly for different reasons. But we all have one thing in common: flying is never just transport, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the journey, wherever that journey may take us. Fly SAS and experience easy, joyful and reliable services delivered the Scandinavian way. Welcome on board.

FLYSAS.COM