Message from the President

Six months ago, in this excellent magazine, my message was in a sense a farewell. I am happy to say that the question of a new President for CoScan is now being actively pursued. Meanwhile, however, I think that this time at least there is a need for a presidential-type word or two.

The autumn of 2022 has been momentous. The war in Ukraine, and the multi-faceted developments in British politics, are not matters on which CoScan can legitimately comment. But the accession of King Charles III as our sovereign, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September, is above politics and touches us all. The citizens of the five Nordic countries are among those most nearly affected. The royal families of Denmark, Norway and Sweden are linked with their British cousins through an intricate network, with a common ancestor in our own Queen Victoria. On the day of our late Queen’s funeral they were very much part of the family, participating also in the more restricted and intimate occasion at Windsor. When I handed my credentials as ambassador to King Harald in 1994, the first line of the formal letter to him from Queen Elizabeth read ‘Sir my brother and dear cousin’ — embodying a relationship not only of shared sovereignty but of family.

The values which we all share were brought to the forefront of our national consciousness during that period of national mourning. There was universal admiration for Queen Elizabeth’s determination and devoted commitment into her very last days. The King’s first message to the nation, full of warmth and personal dedication to service, moved us all. Each country in our region has its own differing traditions, and the role of monarchy varies accordingly, but all would I think respect the same ethical framework. At a time of political flux at the parliamentary level, we in this country are especially grateful for the sure hand of a monarch, and the experience which transcends and outlives the day-to-day struggle.

In our small way, we in CoScan can help to bring together those northern European countries in which we are active, and to develop the collective strength and wisdom which may be greater than the sum of its parts.

Mark Elliott