CPH Post Diplomacy 29 March 2019

Diplomacy MAGAZINE SPRING 2019 - ISSUE 7

• THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR ON BEING AT THE HEART OF EUROPE • CONNIE HEDEGAARD: STILL CARRYING THE CLIMATE TORCH • THE DANISH DIVER WHO BECAME AN UNLIKELY HERO

COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO AMBASSADORS IN DENMARK

CULTIVATING COMMUNICATION, CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION TO MAKE A WORTHY CONTRIBUTION

Photo: Förstner

Modern Germany is at the very centre when it comes to Europe and European integration and the current ambassador is very conscious of the fact Germany's Ambassador to Denmark, Andreas Meitzner, began his professional life at the foreign ministry immediately after finishing his law studies. Over the last 35 years he has held leading positions at German embassies in Montevideo, Lisbon, Prague, Warsaw and Moscow, with home-based functions in Bonn and Berlin, where he was head of strategy and planning, HR, and culture and communication.

The Ambassador spoke to the CPH POST.

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Q

What originally attracted you to a career in the diplomatic service rather than going into the legal profession?

At university I was always more interested in foreign policy, European integration and international affairs than the intricacies of civil or penal law.

A career in the German Foreign Service or with the European Commission seemed to me the perfect way to combine my personal interests in foreign languages, cultures and civilisations with the endeavour to contribute – through diplomacy – to improving international relations, fostering peace and stability, and thus, helping a little bit to make the world a better place for all of us.

Q

How did diplomatic relations between Denmark and modern Germany evolve, and where do you think they are today?

Denmark and Germany have a closely linked history and share various cultural and linguistic

connections. Dramatic events such as the Schleswig Wars in the 19th century and the occupation of Denmark by German troops during World War II to some extent estranged our two countries.

However, in the last few decades we have witnessed an impressive improvement in bilateral relations and I would describe relations now as being full of mutual trust, understanding and openness. The same can also be said regarding the various cross-border exchanges in fields such as trade, research, education and culture.

I also want to highlight the important role of the two national minorities in the border regions. They have established a way to live in peaceful and trusting co-existence, which has had a very positive influence on our excellent bilateral relations.

Next year, we celebrate 100 years of good neighbourliness and ever closer co-operation with a Danish-German Year of Friendship under the

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With reference to our common history we want to show that Denmark and Germany are two closely connected European democracies that share a common view on values and ideas today, as well as in the future.

Q

How do you find living in Denmark and the Danes? What lessons do you think Danes and Germans could learn from each other?

My family and I find the Danish way of life very attractive – less hectic than in most other capitals. People are very open, friendly and more relaxed than elsewhere.

Most visitors from Germany come here to learn the secret of why Danes consider themselves among the happiest people in the world. This of course has to do with excellent social and environmental standards, exemplary working conditions, advanced digitalisation, and flat hierarchies at work or in public life.

I think we can learn a lot from the Danish way of realising an outstandingly positive work-life-balance.

Q

How do you see the role of ambassador in these days of instant communications and multi-national conglomerates wielding more influence than many nation states?

The role of ambassadors and embassies has changed dramatically in the last decades. Classic diplomacy with negotiations behind closed doors has long since been replaced by the whole embassy staff continuously reaching out to the general public, providing information about the latest developments on both sides of the border and promoting the image of modern German society and politics through public diplomacy across all channels: people-to-people contact, information campaigns and direct dialogue formats, including social media.

But change is the essence of democracy. A younger generation of political leaders at all the main parties are well prepared to take over responsibility. I'm totally convinced that whoever follows Merkel as head of the German Government will continue her pro-European course of active engagement in international relations based on shared values and common goals, in close co-operation with all our partners worldwide.

Q

Germany has been firmly at the heart of Europe since signing the treaty setting up the precursor to the EU – the European Coal and Steel Community. How has that affected the national outlook?

Europe and European integration is a core string of the DNA of modern Germany and a key obligation for every German government. It is through the European institutions that Europeans have created together a period of peace and prosperity for our continent never seen before.

This is especially true for Germany, which ravaged its European neighbours with war and committed countless atrocities in the first half of the 20th Century. The European experience in the decades after 1945 cannot be underestimated.

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With Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office Also the reunification of Germany, the positive highlight of my country’s most recent history, has been made possible by the understanding and acceptance of our European partners and neighbours – as well as the US and Russia.

Reunification showed us the strength and importance of European co-operation, as well as a reliable international system where politics and decisions are shaped on the basis of compromise and broad acceptance.

Q

Recently, a slightly tongue-in-cheek petition signed by leading German politicians and figures from business, sport and the arts was published in the Times imploring the UK “from the bottom of our hearts” to reverse Brexit.

Would you care to comment on that?

The petition is one of the many examples of how deeply we in Germany regret the British decision to leave the EU – not only the government and most of the political parties, but the overwhelming majority of people in Germany would prefer the UK to stay.

That's why some political observers even hope for an “exit from Brexit” to take place, simply because we believe the EU is the best thing to have ever happened to usWith sincethe 1945.

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Photo: Hasse Ferrold

Q

For some time now Germany has been more or less synonymous with Angela Merkel, who has gained great respect worldwide. How do you see things evolving when she steps down as Chancellor in 2021?

I came to Denmark in the midst of the German election campaign of 2017 and was instantly struck by the immense respect the Danish public had for Chancellor Merkel and the era she has come to define in Germany.

When she completes her term in 2021 after 16 years as Chancellor and 18 years as leader of her party, she will indeed be able to look back on an impressive domestic and international legacy.

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Q

Assuming that Brexit does take place, how do you see the future role of Germany in terms of its position in Europe? A number of financial institutions from the UK have said they will relocate, so will Frankfurt become the new City of London?

At the moment we don't know how Brexit will be implemented and what consequences the EU and its member states will have to face, so speculating on matters like this is extremely premature. We are focusing on the current situation that hopefully will end with a Brexit in an orderly manner.

Q

The majority parties have to take these concerns seriously, and this is what they already do – recent debates in Bundestag and in the Parliaments of the Länder show very clearly that there is a broad consensus against any form of nationalism, xenophobia, antisemitism or racism in German politics and society.

Q

Immigration into Europe is an issue that polarises people in all countries.

Germany's relatively 'open door' policy has become less popular domestically of late. How do you see things developing here?

The situation since 2015 showed that immigration, as well as the demands for asylum or temporary shelter, needs more international co-operation and solidarity, especially among EU members.

Since last year we've witnessed a significant decline in the number of migrants and asylum-seekers. But the need for migration or seeking asylum from political persecution will not vanish. That's why Germany is working for rule-based international solutions. We need a functional and fair system – the Global Compact on Migration agreed upon last year is an important step in this direction.

For the first time we will soon get a Federal Law defining the rules and procedures for legal immigration to Germany. Against the backdrop of changes in demography and the labour market, we see the need for attracting even more migrants – for the benefit of our economy and social security system, as well as for our cultural diversity.

Q

Since WWII Germany has pursued a very low-key policy when it comes to military interventions. Recent US policy seems to be putting the onus on European governments to defend themselves in Europe. Do you see Germany playing a larger role in NATO missions in the future?

Europe does take more responsibility for its safety. Defence budgets are growing and plans for closer European security co-operation are getting quite specific, with Germany involved. Germany will continue its participation in NATO as well as EU missions in the future.

However, questions regarding international military interventions have been – and to some extent still are – closely linked to our history. Military interventions are the 'ultima ratio' – the last resort.

The work for peace starts with the work to prevent a crisis. And this is a focal point of German foreign policy. We have recently been elected non-permanent members of the UN Security Council where, in close co-operation with our European allies, we will work for sustainable solutions regarding questions of peace, security and crisis prevention.

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Photo: Hasse Ferrold

One of the drivers of Brexit is the general resurgence of extreme nationalism in a number of countries. Do parties such as Alternative für Deutschland pose a serious threat to democracy, or are they more a sign of popular discontent about the established political order?

Democracy and the rule of law are deeply rooted in German society as a whole. Nationalistic positions demanding a 'Germany first' policy are only supported by a very small minority. But in Germany – as in other neighbouring countries – populist movements reflect a growing discontent with the policies and programs of leading parties such as the Christian Democrats or Social Democrats.

Q

What steps are Germany taking to tackle climate change? For example, I read recently that consideration is being given to making public transport free to some degree in order to hit EU emissions targets ...

Ideas about free public transport are being discussed and might be tested in some German cities in the future, but they are far from being implemented throughout the country. We do however have a governmental program that emphasises the importance of the electrification of private, public and commercial transport to lower emissions.

Also, and just recently, the decision was made to phase out coal-fired power stations in Germany within the next 20 years. This is a significant step that will go hand-in-hand with massive investments in green energy.

Additionally, as part of our international outlook, climate change is a topic that Germany is taking very seriously, and it is linked directly to international security. The increasing frequency of extreme weather phenomena such as floods, tornadoes and droughts may give rise to an additional scarcity of existing resources and trigger new conflicts. It is due to this that climate change is one of Germany’s core issues for our work within the UN Security Council in 2019 and 2020.

Q

Finally, on a more light-hearted note, apart from the obvious choice of Berlin, where would you advise tourists to visit in Germany to get to know the Germans and taste the richness of German culture?

Off the beaten track, I would recommend you to visit Dessau in SachsenAnhalt and its Bauhaus Academy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where in 2019 you can explore 100 years of Bauhaus design and architecture, perhaps combined with a trip to Weimar with its Bauhaus University, National Theatre and Goethe Museum. And you must visit Wartburg, a castle in Eisenach where Martin Luther translated the Bible into German.

And, of course, my home town Aachen, at the border with the Netherlands and Belgium, is always worth a visit. It has one of the oldest cathedrals in Germany, where Charles the Great or Charlemagne was crowned in the year 800. I'd specially recommend going there during the carnival season in March – you will be surprised to see how the people in the Rhineland enjoy partying for six days and nights, refuting the cliché that Germans neither have a sense of humour nor know how to have fun!

THE MINISTER WHO CONTINUED THE FIGHT: STILL PUSHING FOR GREEN

CLIMATE INITIATIVES AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Cleaning up the harbour with the Norwegian ambassador

Photo: Irene Hell

BY IRENE HELL

Connie Hedegaard is a tireless advocate for action on climate issues and a consummate – if unconventional – diplomat As Climate and Energy Minister of Denmark she literally made it to the top. Connie Hedegaard cajoled her fellow ministers into strapping on their crampons to hike up the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. The aim of the exercise: to show them first-hand the effects of climate change and to push for massive action.

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Now, about ten years and ten COPs later, Hedegaard is still in the forefront when it comes to agitating for climate action. Indeed, Hedegaard has managed to convert some of her biggest adversaries into allies. Her resolute leadership and unconventional diplomatic methods would even make Machiavelli, the most famous of all state diplomats, salute.

she joined the Sustainability Council of

Diplomacy Magazine talked to Hedegaard at the Alcantara Symposium on Sustainability in Venice in order to learn more about her strategy.

Volkswagen stunned the world with a major

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spend up to 44 billion euros on electrification.

“We cannot just talk to the good guys,” Hedegaard explained. In September 2016

This is not peanuts. This is huge. This is really

Volkswagen.

“After the diesel car emissions scandal, if there was any car manufacturer in the world that had to demonstrate change, it would be Volkswagen.”

At first accused of green washing, in December announcement.

“The CEO announced that Volkswagen would

changing the company.”

about globalisation and feel overwhelmed by immigration and increasing inequalities.

Politician are not living in a vacuum. If we want them to think in the long term, it is important that they get signals from the electorate.”

She has also observed major green shifts in the financial sector. “As part of their risk assessments we can see that pension funds and big financial institutions are starting to change their portfolios.

We can see that there are more and more responsible investors. As money makes the world go round, this is not a small thing. This is a big thing.”

When the conversation turned to how to deal with Trump, Hedegaard retorted: “Do you have any good advice?”

STILL AN OPTIMIST Climate Task Force in Venice

Connie Hedegaard with former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon But for Hedegaard and Georg Kell, the founder of the UN Global Compact who chairs the Volkswagen Sustainability Council, this is not enough.

“The next big step is the transformation from merely being a car manufacturer into being a company that delivers mobility service,” Hedegaard explained.

“I think Georg Kell agrees. They are really changing.”

A LOBBYIST'S NIGHTMARE During her mandate as European Commissioner for Climate, the aggressive lobbying of the auto industry caused nightmares for climate activists.

For decades car manufacturers have tried to sabotage stricter laws for CO2 emissions and new technologies.

“They always stood united and said: don’t give us strict climate regulations,” Hedegaard recalled.

Volkswagen, the world’s biggest car producer, is now turning its fleet around. “Ideas and technology drive mankind,” observed UN Global Compact founder Georg Kell during the Alcantara Symposium.

“Responsible companies are better equipped for the future. High sustainable performers are outperforming polluters,” he added.

Together with Hedegaard, Kell and the top management ignited the 'electric-revolution' at Volkswagen, which is now impacting the global car industry.

POLITICAL CHANGE ALSO NEEDED Climate change is social change, so Hedegaard invests a lot of time and resources into chairing the KR foundation and CONCITO, Denmarks biggest green think-tank.

“More and more people are starting to realise that they can change their energy systems by using wind and solar power,” she continued.

“But if Denmark wants to reach zero emissions by 2050 and wants to fulfil the UN's SDGs, we also have to transform the transportation sector, agriculture, our buildings and the way we plan our cities. Politics has to include all of theses areas.”

However, she remains optimistic that many citizens, organisations and regional governments in the US are increasing their action on climate issues in order to demonstrate that they are still in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

With two decades of experience in international and domestic executive policy making, Hedegaard is one of the most outspoken and best connected advocates of a low-carbon and green economy.

Time magazine named her as one of the rare personalities who most affect the world and do the impossible. What is her secret formula for successful politics?

“The art of politics is to push interests a bit more that they want to be pushed, but of course, you should not push them so much that they go out of business,” she said.

Hedegaard is upbeat when it comes to the young generation: “The green student movement is calling for real change. They are holding politicians accountable.”

To be resolute and outspoken is her trademark.

“The time has come for a bit more 'naming and shaming'. We should not be afraid to say something positive to companies and nations that do the right thing. But we also should be more direct with those who are not acting responsibly.”

GREEN SHOOTS SPOTTED Hedegaard is proud that Denmark is one of the greenest nations. “In our upcoming elections before June, climate is at the top of the agenda,” she pointrd out.

What worries her is increasing populism and xenophobia. “People feel insecure

In Greenland 9

THE DANISH DIVER WHO BECAME A HERO OVERNIGHT IN A DARING CAVE RESCUE IN THAILAND

BY ROBERT EYFJORD

As the old saying goes “Cometh the hour, cometh the man” In late June last year a dozen Thai soccer teammates and their assistant coach found themselves trapped inside the Tham Luang cave when heavy rainfall unexpectedly flooded the entrance.

Danish-born Ivan Karadzic, a professional scuba diver who has lived in Thailand for the last 12 years, immediately volunteered to help.

Karadzic was an integral part of the courageous rescue effort covered by media worldwide that saw all 13 ‘Wild Boars’ saved from the flooded cave. As well as being chosen as CPH POST's 'Dane of the Year', Karadzic also spoke to the paper.

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Q

Could you tell me a little about yourself?

I am 45 years old and was born and raised in Vedbæk. In 2006 I was invited to a friend’s wedding in Thailand, which was my first time outside of Europe. I took my first diving course on that vacation, and after that, I knew I’d be back.

I sold my apartment, returned to Thailand and became a diving instructor. In 2012 I opened my own diving centre, Koh Tao Tec Divers. It’s on a small island renowned for being a ‘diving mecca’, so it’s quite popular.

Q

What do you love about diving?

I like to explore. The unknown fascinates me.

Scuba diving offers you an opportunity to see the most spectacular things. There’s still so much we don’t know about the ocean. Knowing it’s unlikely I’ll walk on the moon or Mars, the ocean is my frontier.

Q

How did you get involved in the cave rescue?

As well as running the diving centre I’m also a member of an organisation called Koh Tao Rescue, which serves as a private ambulance service to deal with emergencies on the island. I’m in charge of the diving department.

The authorities had been alerted that something was wrong on the evening of June 23, when the boys and their assistant coach didn't come home after practice. Knowing that the team regularly went to the Tham Luang cave, it was one of the first places checked. Their bicycles were found by the cave entrance, which was completely flooded.

The next day, a fellow instructor and I learned about the situation and offered our services to help in any way possible. There are approximately 30 cave divers in Thailand, and we all know each other.

It was soon clear that professional divers were needed, and we ended up being around 10-15 volunteers joining 90 Royal Thai Navy SEALs and four divers from the UK with extensive cave rescue experience.

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I'd never dived in this cave before, and to the best of my knowledge no-one else has, as it’s only filled with water during the monsoon season. The water becomes mud and there are strong currents that not only make it impossible to see underwater, but also very difficult to navigate in.

The boys were in the ninth chamber of the cave, which is about halfway.

They’d been in there fornine days until they were found on July 2. In that time all they had to eat was half a packet of toast bread. The coach taught the boys how to drink filtered water from the walls of the cave, which doctors reckon helped save their lives.

Discovering that the boys and their coach were alive was just the tip of the iceberg. An air analyser revealed that there was only 15 percent oxygen in the area where the boys were stuck. When the oxygen level hits 12 percent, people usually slip into unconsciousness, and at 10 percent, you die.

We were working against the clock. Drilling from the surface over the cave with heavy machinery was considered, but quickly abandoned because the boys were around 700 metres down. Meanwhile, around 22 huge water pumps were installed to suck out as much water as possible while we planned the rescue.

One of the divers delivered three tanks of air to the boys on July 6 to help buy time, but tragically didn't make it out of the cave alive. That’s when the true danger of this mission became apparent.

Q

What was your role in the rescue?

The boys were 4.5 kilometres in, which is not reachable for a diver on one set of equipment. We acted as a support group, creating a ‘pit stop’ about 2.5 kilometres inside the cave, where we kept fresh tanks, extra

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equipment, food and medicine. We swam back and forth into this sixth chamber with an extra supply of tanks every day until July 7.

Q

How was the extraction planned?

The boys, some as young as 11 years old, were obviously not divers.

We were afraid that they would panic at some point during the rescue.

A doctor decided the safest way to rescue the boys would be by anaesthetising them. Because they were unconscious throughout the operation, they did not panic or have any traumatic recollections.

However, when you’re unconscious you’re not capable of keeping the regulator in your mouth, as you have to bite down. Full-face masks were needed, but finding some that would fit the young boys proved difficult.

Q

How much gear did you have to wear?

A wet suit, a diving mask, a helmet with lights installed on them, gloves, scuba fins, a buoyancy compensator, side-mounted tanks because of the narrowness of the cave, regulators, tracking coils, three navigation devices – and knives in case I got caught somewhere.

Every time we’d go in, we carried a total of five tanks: two for ourselves and another three for the team. The entire outfit weighed around 40 kilos on land, but it’s weightless underwater.

Q

How did you feel throughout the mission?

Despite the difficult conditions in the cave, the only times I felt distressed were the days before the boys were found, wondering whether this would be a rescue or recovery mission.

July 8 was my last day in the cave, but it was a long day; we met in the morning for briefing and weren’t done until 2 am. We also retrieved the first four children. I woke up the next day and I was completely knackered! Dizzy, sweating profusely and my entire body ached.

Nevertheless, knowing the job wasn't done until all 13 members of the football team were rescued, I still got in a cab and headed toward Tham Luang. Another four boys were rescued on July 9. Although I felt ready again on July 10, the doctor wouldn't allow me back into the water. But through the great efforts of the other divers, the remaining four boys and the coach were rescued that day.

Q

What happened after everyone had made it out safely?

I left Tham Luang around noon and arrived in Bangkok on July 10. I was greeted by the king of Thailand’s personal servant at the airport.

The assistant thanked me on behalf of King Rama X and the people of Thailand and presented me with a gift.

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After that, one of the airport employees asked me where I was going, assuming I was headed back to Europe like most of the other divers. When I told her that I actually lived in Thailand and that I’d be going to Chumphon Airport, she abruptly walked away only to return moments later with a plane ticket “on the house”.

When I landed in Chumphon, there were airport employees waiting for me and I was given total VIP treatment! But they insisted I stay for another night to celebrate. They'd checked me into a decent hotel in the city and I ended up taking the ferry home to Koh Tao with a severe hangover the next morning.

The Governor of Suratthani contacted me and offered me a free renewal of my residence permit in Thailand – a gesture I very much appreciated.

The government held a huge event on October 6 to commemorate the actions of those involved in the rescue, which meant approximately 7,000 people were invited: divers, engineers, soldiers, doctors, and volunteers. The prime minister of Thailand was there. Notable celebrities and musicians performed all night. And sitting at the next table were the 12 boys. It was great to meet them all.

Receiving my renewed residence permit

Q

What did you find most difficult about the mission?

We knew the risks, but we all felt a shared responsibility in getting the boys out.

The hardest thing was that the families were always there – in a building close to the cave. After a bathroom break, I walked out in full scuba gear and the parents of three of the boys came up to me, thanking me for rescuing their children.

This was on July 3, and although we hadn’t been able to bring anyone out yet, the father of one the boys gave me a gift: a traditional sarong. That was quite difficult, and I shut my feelings off, knowing I had to stay completely focused.

Q

Has the rescue changed you in any way?

I feel branded, but in a positive way. It has been an amazing opportunity to work with such dedicated people, who were willing to risk their own lives to save others.

I feel honoured to have been part of the rescue.

Being presented with an award

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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

Albania

Algeria

Argentina

Armenia

Elida Petoshati

Ali Benzerga

Conrado Solari

Alexander Arzoumanian

Belgium

Benin

Leo Peeters

Eusebe Agbangla

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Australia 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

Deng Ying

Tina Krce

Yiliam Sardiñas

Penelope Erotokritou

Radek Pech

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Vesa Vasara

Caroline Farrari

Gigi Gigiadze

Andreas Meitzner

Efthalia Kakiopoulou

India

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Ajit Gupte

Muhammad Said

Morteza Moradian

Alaa Musa

Ireland Cliona Manahan

Israel Benjamin Dagan

Egypt Ayman Alkaffas

Hungary Kristof Altusz

Italy Luigi Ferrari

All photos: Hasse Ferrold unless stated

AMBASSADORS BASED IN DENMARK

Ivory Coast

Japan

Latvia

Libya

Lithuania

Mina Balde-Laurent

Toshiro Suzuki

Alda Vanaga

Mohamed Selim

Ginte Damusis

Morocco

Nepal

Netherlands

Niger

Khadija Rouissi

Yuba Nath Lamsal

Henk Swarttouw

Amadou Tcheko

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Henryka MoscickaDendys

Rita Laranjinha

Romania

Russia

Mihai-Alexandru Gradinar

Vladimir Barbin

Mexico

Janine Finck

Carlos Pujalte

Pakistan

Norway Aud Kolberg

Palestine

Syed Zulfiqar Gardezi

Saudi Arabia Fahad Alruwaily

Mufeed M Shami

Serbia Jasmina Mitrovic-Maric

UN

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Luxembourg

Slovakia Miroslav Wlachovsky

Thailand Vichit Chitvimarn

Slovenia

South Africa

South Korea

Edvin Skrt

Zindziswa Mandela

Jai-Chul Choi

Turkey

Uganda

Ugur Kenan Ipek

Nimisha Madhvani

Ukraine Mykhailo Vydoinyk

Spain Romรกn Oyarzun

United Arab Emirates Fatema Almazrouei

Sweden Fredrik Jรถrgensen

Switzerland Benedikt Wechsler

United Kingdom

United States

Vietnam

Dominic Schroeder

Carla Sands

Pham Thanh Dung

All photos: Hasse Ferrold unless stated

AMBASSADORS – BASED OVERSEAS

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Aichatou Aoudou (London)

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Jitoko Tikolevu (London) s

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Ethiopia

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Merga Bekana (Stockholm)

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Costa Rica JosĂŠ Barrantes (London)

Equatorial Guinea

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Comoros

Mari-Cruz Andeme (London)

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Pho

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Ahmed Bourhane (Paris)

Anita Escher (Stockholm)

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Colombia

El Salvador

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Sonia Duran (Stockholm)

Ecuador

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LAST OF THE DANISH STATESMEN RECALLING AN ERA OF IMPECCABLE MANNERS AND DELICATE DIPLOMACY

BY ROBERT EYFJORD

Count Henrik Holstein reflects on the nature of diplomacy, the Cold War and working with a US Ambassador who was a career diplomat At 64 years of age, Count Henrik Holstein can look back on an interesting and varied career, comprised of working with the US Foreign Service, business, teaching and writing.

Now on his second book, Count Holstein also gives history lectures and offers guided tours around Danish castles and cathedrals. As an active board member, he devotes a great deal of time to the charitable Johanniter organisation and the Danish Nobility Association. Count Holstein recently spoke to Diplomacy Magazine.

Q

Cleaning up the harbour with the Norwegian ambassador

What was your upbringing like?

I grew up in the country. When I was 11 years old I was sent to Herlufsholm boarding school, where I spent eight wonderful years. Normally it would be only seven years, but I asked the headmaster for another year – or perhaps he asked me!

After joining the Royal Guards I became a sergeant and was designated for officers' school, but after a year waiting for a place, I left.

However, I've spent most of my time in business. I was an export manager and for six years a managing director. I also tried to run my own business and lost all my money! It was only recently that I retired to this former convent in Roskilde in order to take up writing. I'm mostly writing about historical subjects, that have always fascinated me.

20

Photo: Hasse Ferrold

Q

What does your career path look like?

Back in the early 80s I spent three years in South Africa working for a British chemicals company. It was a remarkable experience to work with the local population down there. Some years later I served as political advisor to US Ambassador Terence Todman for a total of three years. It was during a time that has often been described as a "controversial era in the history of Danish foreign policy."

Q

How did you get into the political advisory role?

It was almost by mistake. I was told about an opening at the American Embassy by an acquaintance applying for the position. He said: “Henrik, I’ve been rejected, why don’t you try?”

I did, and was invited in for a series of interviews.

Eventually, they told me I’d get the job because I was the right guy, but I would need to learn a lot of things very fast. Indeed, I really had a lot to learn – but it was very, very exciting.

Q

What was it like to work with Ambassador Todman?

Ambassador Todman is the only professional ambassador the United States has ever deployed to Denmark in my lifetime. It was an honour to serve him – I learned so much from him and the work was extremely satisfying.

Todman was from the US Virgin Islands, formerly the Danish West Indies. He served in the US Army during and after WWII. He

appropriate responses, and to carry out an efficient public affairs strategy.

However, professional diplomats may well have a different view.

Q Q

When has diplomacy been most essential in your time?

Probably when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. It was absolutely critical that diplomacy functioned well in those days. During the Cold War it was easy to label things black and white, them or us, whereas the world is much more complex today.

Do you seeing any similarities between the Cold War and global tensions today?

Fortunately, today’s tensions are not at the same level as they were during the Cold War. We can travel to Russia whenever we want – even to Cuba – and vice versa. I sincerely hope that it will stay like that. But we have some very complex challenges that are extremely dangerous. The huge development of fake news and the troll factories that spread disinformation constitute a completely new sort of warfare.

We’ve always known about propaganda, but this has different aspects and dimensions that are scarily far-reaching.

Former US Ambassador Terence Todman

was always top at the universities. He became US ambassador to a number of nations, followed by Spain, then Denmark and finally Argentina, where he was dubbed ‘the Viceroy’ with loving sarcasm. He was a so-called ‘career Ambassador’ from 1990 until his death in 2014.

In Denmark, he explained to the Opposition of the time that if they made it difficult for American warships to sail in Danish waters, the ships would stay away altogether. The Opposition commented to the press that now they knew what it was like for a Hungarian prime minister to be called in for a meeting with the Soviet ambassador! Todman never accepted that an honest politician could turn ‘not coming with our ships’ into ‘coming with our forces to put you right’.

Photo: US National Archives

Q

Which qualities should a diplomat try to embody?

As an outside observer it seems that it is mostly the older generation of statesmen who embody the virtues and qualities of a diplomat: never arrogant, always agile and goal-orientated, impeccable with perfect manners. It seems that some of these qualities are occasionally lost in some of the younger Danish diplomats as they strive to be ‘relaxed Danes’ at the expense of elegant and congenial manners – unlike most of their foreign counterparts.

Q

What are you currently working on?

I’m writing my second book, which revolves around Germans who helped Danish Jews and resistance fighters during the Occupation of Denmark (1940-45), a topic that has not been given prominence before. There are some very touching stories like that of the Dane whose life was saved twice in one day by German officer. Or when the Shell House was bombed and everyone ran out of the house, and the German prison guard ran against the stream, up the staircases to the top floor to let the prisoners out of their attic cells.

Q

My first book was ‘Nobility in Our Time’, which endeavours to sum up the framework of rules, etiquettes and traditions still applying to the DanishNorwegian nobility – lest it all be forgotten. You may find more at historiesus.dk.

This particular period of the Cold War was crucial for Denmark as a NATO member, and that made my job even more interesting.

At one stage an Opposition spokesman was in line to be the next chairman of a NATO organisation, even though he had always been extremely critical of NATO and the United States.

I objected and said “at least the US could protest about it,” but the ambassador said Washington had decided not to make a fuss; they, for their part, would just withhold information from this man throughout his tenure. Not at all satisfied, I compiled a report quoting some of the most radical statements this fellow had made, and somehow it was sent to Washington. Next thing I knew, the chairmanship was given to another country, which resulted in great relief – even within the man’s own party.

Q

How to you see the importance of diplomacy?

While just before WWI it was rather the opposite, modern diplomacy serves to avoid misunderstandings between nations.

Diplomacy may defuse crises and, ultimately, prevent war. For the individual embassies, the most important duties are to be the eyes and ears of their respective countries, to recommend

Count Holstein wearing the insignia of the German Johanniter order 21

DIPLOMACY MEETS REGALIA AT LAVISH NEW YEAR RECEPTION AT CHRISTIANSBORG PALACE

Icelandic ambassador Benedikt Bjarki Jonsson is presented to the queen

PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD WORDS: BEN HAMILTON

As a hundred diplomats gathered to be presented to the queen, a very noticeable elephant stood … close to the exit Christiansborg Palace was once again the venue for the queen’s new year reception for the diplomatic corps, as close to 100 dignitaries came to pay their respects on January 4.

As is traditional, the occasion gave Diplomacy Magazine the catch up with all the countries’ new heads of mission, as well as catching sight of rare visits by ambassadors located elsewhere in cities such as Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Paris, Brussels, The Hague, Berlin and London.

In the absence of the current dean of the diplomatic corps, Russian ambassador Mikhail Vanin, Icelandic ambassador Benedikt Bjarki Jonsson stepped up to make the official address to Queen Margrethe II, who was once again joined by the Crown Prince Couple 22

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT, BREXIT Brexit is a hot topic in diplomatic circles right now, and particularly in Denmark as 15 of the ambassadors responsible for Denmark are located in the UK capital: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Jamaica, Malawi, Mauritius, Myanmar and Sierra Leone.

The Crown Prince Couple

As the diplomats waited in line to be presented to their majesties, it gave them an opportunity to speculate on what might happen in the event of a Hard Brexit.

While there are concerns about what effect it might have on travel, there is also speculation that a Hard Brexit might generate too much paperwork, encouraging some countries to set up an embassy in London to exclusively deal with British matters, thus moving their northern Europe ambassadors elsewhere.

Queen Margrethe

Mihai-Alexandru Gradinar (Romania)

Toshiro Suzuki (Japan)

Ajit Gupte (India)

Muhammad Abdul Muhit (Bangladesh)

Muhammad Ibnu Said (Indonesia)

Choi Jai-Chul (South Korea)

Luigi Ferrari (Italy)

Kristof Altusz (Hungary)

Edvin Skrt (Slovenia) 23

24

Ms Khadija Rouissi (Morocco)

Ms Deng Ying (China)

Ms Fatema Khamis Almazrouei (UAE)

Ms Caroline Ferrari (France)

Ms Ginte Damusis (Lithuania)

Ms Maria-Goretti Agaleoue (Burkina Faso)

Ms Carla Sands (USA)

Ms Efthalia Kakiopoulou (Greece)

Ms Aud Kolberg (Norway)

Ms Henryka Moscicka-Dendys (Poland)

Ms Yiliam Sardinas Gomez (Cuba)

Ms Jasmina Maric (Serbia)

Ms Maria Rotheiser-Scotti (Austria)

Ms Penelope Erotokritou (Cyprus)

Yuba Nath Lamsal (Nepal)

Vichit Chitvimarn (Thailand)

Zulfiqar Gardezi (Pakistan)

Flavio Tarsetti (Chile) 25

NEW IN TOWN PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD WORDS: STEPHEN GADD

Ambassadors come and go and Diplomacy magazine would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new ambassadors who arrived in Denmark this spring

Albania: Mrs Elida Petoshati is a career diplomat and academic who holds a PhD in philological sciences. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998 and since then has held a number of posts. From 2001-2005 Petoshati was counsellor at the Albanian embassy to Romania. Petoshati has also been active with UNESCO. She served as ambassador to Canada prior to being appointed ambassador to Denmark

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Educated in Bosnia and Sweden, Emir Poljo has considerable knowledge of, as well as extensive diplomatic experience in, Scandinavia. From 1997-2001 he served as deputy Ambassador in Stockholm. He then assumed the office of ambassador to Norway in Oslo from 2012-2017, where he also covered Iceland, prior to being designated ambassador to Denmark based in Copenhagen, where he also covers Latvia and Lithuania

Bulgaria: Svetlan Stoev holds a master's degree in international relations and also majored in international economic relations at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow and European institutions and policies in Bonn. Stoev began his carrier at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in October 1985. He has held posts in Turkey, Nigeria, Germany and Sweden before being appointed ambassador in Copenhagen

Croatia: Ms Tina Krce (MA in English and German Language and Literature) is a career diplomat with almost 20 years of experience in the foreign service in different capacities. She co-ordinated the public diplomacy project leading to Croatia's non-permanent membership to the UN Security Council 2008-2009.

Prior to being appointed Ambassador to Denmark, from 2012-2018 she served consecutively in Israel as DHOM and as ChargĂŠ d'Affaires

Uganda: Educated in the US and UK, Nimisha Jayant Madhvani has had a long and distinguished diplomatic career. From 1993-2006 she was deputy ambassador in Washington, afterwards being posted to New Delhi. Based in Paris from October 2013-February 2017 she served as ambassador to France, Spain and Portugal. Madhvani was ambassador to the UAE prior to being designated ambassador to the Nordic countries based in Denmark

Ukraine: Mykhailo Vydoinyk graduated from Lviv's National Ivan Franko University in 2000, specialising in international economic relations and interpreting. He joined the ministry of foreign affairs in 2000, holding a number of internal posts. Vydoinyk has also worked at the secretariats of the Ukrainian Parliament and the government, being responsible for international co-operation issues. Before being appointed ambassador to Denmark he served abroad in Greece and Poland

26

BY HASSE FERROLD

ABOUT TOWN

Lovers of English-language theatre are once again spoilt for choice this spring. First off, the Copenhagen Theatre Circle is bringing its production of JB Priestley’s classic whodunit ‘An Inspector Calls’ (April 3-13), followed by its Fringe Festival (May 2-4). Less than two weeks later, the stage will be cleared for London Toast’s musical extravaganza ‘Oh Baby – It's Cole’ (May 15-June 1). Finally, Leftfield Theatre has confirmed it is staging an ambitious program called Truth by Falsehood (April 23-30) at Teaterøen on Refshaleøen. The program consists of one play and a trio of three shorter ones playing on alternate nights, tackling subjects including kinky sex, spurned lovers and unravelling theatre groups

When it comes to festivals, the Danes don’t do it by halves, and sometimes one just isn’t enough – particularly for one of the nation’s biggest passions. May is serving up two beer festivals: the Mikkeller Beer Celebration (May 10-11) at Øksnehallen and the Copenhagen Beer Festival at Lokomotivværkstedet (May 23-25). Elsewhere the line-up is relentless, with the Salsa Festival (May 3-5), the Lindy Festival (May 29-June 2), the Design Festival May (1-13), the Click avantgarde festival (May 19-20), and the Jewish Culture Festival (June 2-11) all vying for your attention. And maybe it’s not too late to hunt down some tickets to listen to Michelle Obama speak at Royal Arena on April 9

Given the length of time Danes collectively spend indoors over the winter months, it’s a crying shame there aren’t more outdoor spring festivals to entice them out. One only has to look at the success of the Sakura Festival, the Japanese Embassy’s relatively new event to coincide with the blooming of the cherry blossom at Langelinie (April 27-28), whose bright colours have for the last 12 years been offering salvation to winter-weary eyes. Also drawing you outside are the Architecture Festival (April 4-14), Ledreborg Livsstilsdage lifestyle fair (May 17-19), the Distortion street party festival (May 29-June 2) and racing at Klampenborg Racetrack (April 27, May 4, 18 & 25, June 1 & 8)

Maundy Thursday (April 18) sets the ball rolling, with Good Friday (April 19) and Easter Monday (April 22) following fast. Next it is the turn of Great Prayer Day (May 17), a merger of several holy days as Denmark embraced two-day weekends. Ascension Day (Thursday May 30) tends to result in the country shutting down on the next day as well, and then Whit Monday (June 10) – following a momentous weekend featuring the Medieval Festival and Copenhagen Carnival – completes the trio. An added bonus this year are Labour Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (June 5) both falling on week days, although only public workers and schools tend to get the time off

Tivoli’s summer season will start on April 4, following on from Bakken opening its doors on March 23. Following its winter season, this is Tivoli’s second opening of the year, while Bakken is also lengthening its year following the lifting of local restrictions

With a great many national days being celebrated, the diplomatic corps can look forward to a busy spring, with Africa Day (May 25), Anzac Day (April 25) and the Volunteers Festival (May 23) also taking place 27

THE INSIDE STORY

UN CITY COPENHAGEN

A HUB FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Photo: Adam Mørk

28

The United Nations has used Copenhagen as a hub for global and regional operations since 1957, albeit from three different locations. At present, the Danish capital is home to some 1,800 staff working from UN City Campus 1 on Marmormolen and Campus 2, the UNICEF state-of-the-art high bay storage facility located at the container port in the Northern Harbour.

Designed by the Danish architects 3XN, the star-shaped Campus 1 building on Marmormolen symbolises how the United Nations reaches out to people all over the

More than 1,400 solar panels line the roof of UN City covering around 10 percent of the building's annual electricity consumption

Photo: Adam Mørk

Inaugurated in 2013, the UN City Campus 1 building on the tip of Marmormolen (Marble Pier) in the Northern Harbour District is home to 11 United Nations organisations employing staff from 108 different countries

Photo: Adam Mørk

UN City offers 680 above-ground bicycle racks as well as a further 115 in the basement

Every year UN City welcomes approximately 80,000-100,000 people for meetings, conferences and guided tours. Among the key functions of the organisations in Copenhagen are procurement, supply chain and human resources management, health and innovation – to mention but a few.

The auditorium is the UN City conference facility, with a total capacity of 450 persons

Photo: Adam Mørk

world. The energy-efficient building accommodates 1,500 staff in office spaces covering 45,000 square metres. Standing 6 storeys high, the building has been designed to constitute a beacon for sustainability while at the same time providing the optimum environment for co-operation between the resident UN organisations. To the latter end, 3XN designed a staircase as a dramatic spatial sculpture – not only to serve as a physical connecting factor between the agencies, but also as a social space, allowing staff to use the stairs and the adjacent open areas for informal meetings.

Photo: Adam Mørk

The inspiration for the staircase is a heart with two arteries, which lead to the different floors and agencies

Photo: Adam Mørk

Specially designed solar shades on the building’s facade can be opened and closed to either trap or reflect the heat from the sun

Photo: Adam Mørk

Outdoor spaces and green roofs enable UN City's compliance with environmental requirements

A COMMON AGENDA While the 11 UN organisations working in Copenhagen vary in size and mandate, they share a common agenda – the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030.

UN City thus constitutes a hub for UN operations – as well as an SDG hub for business, academia and the public to connect with – to advance the 2030 agenda.

Learn more about UN City Copenhagen and its resident organisations at un.dk

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals unite the 1,800 staff in Copenhagen in purpose and resolve 29

A DIPLOMATIC UPBrINGING

LEARNING THE VIRTUES OF OPEN-MINDEDNESS, MeeTing a FUTUre nobel prize TOLERANCE AND DIVERSITY winner anD learning langUages

BY ROBERT EYFJORD

Pauline Frijs-Madsen is the cph postofinterviewed antonio daughter Claire Allamand and Ole Frijs-Madsen. latter cascias whose father,The although has serving as Danish nowbeen retired, served as a diploambassador in Prague since mat for his country.

September 2017

■ Life as the child of a diplomat can be isolating and full of uncertainty, putting a strain on friendships and forcing young people to adapt quickly to new cultural environments and languages. in which countries did your parents serve?

Belgium (where I was born ), USA, Denmark, the Netherlands, Czech republic.

Part-Danish part-French, Pauline Frijs-Madsen is an artistic polyglot with a great enthusiasm for bringing people together. She's currently studying business administration and sociology at Copenhagen Business School.

Q

what country did they represent?

Portugal.

Where has your father served?

My father has served in Switzerland, the UK, Argentina and Saudi Arabia and is currently Danish ambassador to the

Uruguay and Paraguay. His posting in Saudi Arabia meant he also undertook ambassadorial duties in Yemen, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.

Q Q

When did he enter the foreign service?

My father's diplomatic career started in 1987. My family and I moved to London shortly after I was born in 1997. We moved back to Denmark in 2002 where we stayed for ten years until my father decided to re-enter the diplomatic service.

life as a son of a diplomat is a very diplomat?

Over the privileged past few years I've had ambivalent one feelings – about being the 'child of a diplomat'. It feels like a label at times and sadlyand I’ve encountered had misconcepcanpeople at who've times tions about what it really entails. be superficial.

What life lessons can be learnt from the child of a

Nevertheless, I've learnt many lessons from my upbringing.

These include open-mindedness and an eagerness to learn more about people, cultures and their environments. An important one is patience. Moving around meeting new and different people in different countries during your formative years teaches you to be patient with others, to develop empathy for just about everyone, and to appreciate that people are often formed by the values and cultures surrounding them.

Q

What qualities have you gained from your time abroad?

I've definitely learnt to be more tolerant. I've learnt to see people partly as a product of their upbringing. I have gained an interest in diversity and an eagerness to understand how events can be caused by people and vice versa: how events can shape people.

30 30

what life lessons could be learned from being the child of an ambassador?

Life as a son of a diplomat is a very privileged one – and can at times be superficial. One should measure one's words prior to voicing them to avoid any misinterpretation.

what years were they active? who is the most famous person you Antonio’s father was Portugal’s ambassahave shaken hands with?

Jubilant smiles all around. High school graduation in 2016 at the American International dor to Denmark from 1986 to 1991.

Meeting Queen Mother juliana of School, Riyadh

Czech Republic.

While serving in Argentina he was also accredited to

was engaging and fulfilling and has contributed to the person I've become today; understanding that perhaps our approach may not be the optimum one.

Orange-Nassau and her husband Prince Did you ever accompany your parents Bernhard – their warmth and humanity What are your hobbies and interests? moment', and more specifically, to fully immerse were visible during that encounter. And abroad? if so, what was it like to be a myself in the culture and history of the country I enjoy cooking, travelling, analogue photograjosé ramos-Horta – at the time, his foreigner there?

I was living in. That also meant my identity has phy and learning new languages. My interests approach to achieving independence in It was a great experience living abroad. been East shaped by my surroundings – and and not so are very focused on others and the way in which Timor through non-violence the I didn't feel like a foreigner, yet naturally much by my Danish and French heritage. we interactabsorbed with onedifferent another, which makes my people's self-determination was inspiracultures and lifestyles, academic course all the for more tional. Later, he was awarded the Nobel with respect therewarding. views voiced. Learnhas your diplomatic upbringing shaped Prize. ing the basics of the local languages and How Peace your world-view?

What aspirations do you have? making friends of diverse background

Q Q

I'm still being exposed to a variety of paths

worth considering. However I hope to be able to

Very much. First and foremost it has broadened my way of seeing the world. I consider myself

maintain an international career based predom-

lucky to have lived in two countries – Argentina

inately on human relations.

and Saudi Arabia – so incredibly different from

My ambition is to apply my unique cultural

my home country.

experiences and knowledge to help mitigate the

When I moved for the first time I had a certain

clash of cultures. I’d love to promote greater

belief that the world was universally similar and

tolerance and counter the rise of nationalism

that all other countries were just like Denmark.

through work as a consultant or strategist in an

I quickly learned my home country is just a

organisation with global appeal.

piece of a very large puzzle that we call the

My interest in the former derives from my experiences in the voluntary sector, as well as

world, and that there are so many wonderful places and people coexisting within this puzzle.

community service completed during my Inter-

I often compare my upbringing to a suitcase I

national Baccalaureate program at high school.

carry with me. Always by my side, it gives me

Q

Graduating from the English college in Prague

Q

comfort and familiarity, and it is something that

What does cultural identity mean to you?

people around me do not necessarily need me

Cultural identity means a lot to me. When I first

to open and share because I am content with

moved back to Copenhagen in 2016 after grad-

the knowledge that I will always have it as an

uating, it was something that I really struggled

intrinsic part of me. Furthermore, it serves as a

with. I felt as if I wasn’t quite Danish and not

personal excuse for me to always want to go to

quite an 'international citizen'. It has always

the airport and catch the next flight, but that’s a

been important for me to be present 'in the

different story!

It's Oh Baby... Cole

"Oh Baby, it's Cole" is Vivienne McKee's entertaining, toetapping cabaret show based on the incomparable music and sophisticated life of Cole Porter. It tells the story of Cole's life through his songs, and invites the audience to appreciate his clever use of the English language as well as his brilliantly innovative melodies.

KRUDTTØNDEN MAY 15TH 2019 - JUNE 1ST 2019 TICKETS: 4053 4949 TEATERBILLETTER.DK BILLETLUGEN.DK

Do you want to improve your language skills in the fastest

BOOK YOUR TOTAL IMMERSION® COURSE TODAY to learn a new language. The Method was developed in corporation with the Institute of Psychology at McGill intensive language course.

A Total Immersion® course includes the following elements: 60 PRIVATE LESSONS IN 5 DAYS Full-day intensive language instruction with certified coaches, based on the Berlitz Method®.

Berlitz Action Module role plays of realistic business and social situations.Lunch with your coach every day offering opportunity to practice in a social setting.

STANDARD PRICE - DKK 35.420,YOUR PRICE - DKK 33.420,Languages available: English, German, French, Spanish and Italian.

DENMARK +45 70 21 50 10 www.berlitz.dk

YOU GET MANY BENEFITS WITH THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION ON THE MARKET: Quick learning outcomes via intensive private lessons with your teacher, who teaches in his/her own native language Within 2- 3 weeks you will be able to communicate in professional and social conversations You speak, you listen and you think in your new language – all day long You have a daily session with two language teachers, where you will practice group conversations You have your teacher’s attention – 100% You speak minimum 50% of the time Order online today www.berlitz.dk or contact us for a personal interview Phone: +45 7021 5010 / e-mail: info@berlitz.dk