Denmark–Egypt relations
Encyclopedia
Denmark-Egypt relations are foreign relations between Denmark and Egypt. Denmark has an embassy in Cairo
, and consulates in Suez
, Port Said
and Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Copenhagen
. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean
.
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
have caused a diplomatic crisis between Denmark and Egypt.
After Per Stig Møller
s visit to President Hosni Mubarak
in 2008, Mubarak described the bilateral relations as good and fruitful and expressed his support for its further expansion, especially in economic cooperation.
, Aboul Gheit, wrote several letters to the Prime Minister of Denmark and to the United Nations Secretary-General explaining that they did not want the Prime Minister to prosecute Jyllands-Posten; they only wanted "an official Danish statement underlining the need for and the obligation of respecting all religions and desisting from offending their devotees to prevent an escalation which would have serious and far-reaching consequences". Subsequently, the Egyptian government played a leading role in defusing the issue in the Middle East.
Egyptian newspaper al-Fagr reprints some of the cartoons, describing them as a "continuing insult" and a "racist bomb". and argued that they are blasphemous
to people of the Muslim faith, are intended to humiliate a Danish minority, or are a manifestation of ignorance about the history of Western imperialism
.
strongly condemned the alleged Egyptian authorities' actions against the protests. Danish-Palestinian politician Naser Khader
urged Mubarak to resign. Danish Foreign Ministry also warned against all travel to Egypt.
.
visited Hosni Mubarak
. Hosni Mubarak visited Denmark in 17 December 2009. A delegation from the Egyptian Education Committee visited Denmark in 2007.
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, and consulates in Suez
Suez
Suez is a seaport city in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez , near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, having the same boundaries as Suez governorate. It has three harbors, Adabya, Ain Sokhna and Port Tawfiq, and extensive port facilities...
, Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
and Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
.
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
have caused a diplomatic crisis between Denmark and Egypt.
After Per Stig Møller
Per Stig Møller
Per Stig Møller was Culture Minister of Denmark. He has been a member of Folketinget for the Conservative People's Party since 1984, and was Minister for the Environment from December 18, 1990 to January 24, 1993 as part of the Cabinet of Poul Schlüter IV and Foreign Minister from November 27,...
s visit to President Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
in 2008, Mubarak described the bilateral relations as good and fruitful and expressed his support for its further expansion, especially in economic cooperation.
Political relations
The Egyptian Minister of Foreign AffairsForeign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
, Aboul Gheit, wrote several letters to the Prime Minister of Denmark and to the United Nations Secretary-General explaining that they did not want the Prime Minister to prosecute Jyllands-Posten; they only wanted "an official Danish statement underlining the need for and the obligation of respecting all religions and desisting from offending their devotees to prevent an escalation which would have serious and far-reaching consequences". Subsequently, the Egyptian government played a leading role in defusing the issue in the Middle East.
Egyptian newspaper al-Fagr reprints some of the cartoons, describing them as a "continuing insult" and a "racist bomb". and argued that they are blasphemous
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
to people of the Muslim faith, are intended to humiliate a Danish minority, or are a manifestation of ignorance about the history of Western imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
.
Danish reaction to the Egyptian Revolution of 2011
During the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, Minister for Foreign Affairs Lene EspersenLene Espersen
Lene Espersen is a Danish politician and member of parliament who has been Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs since 23 February 2010 and was leader of the Conservative People's Party and Deputy Prime Minister from 9 September 2008 to 13 January 2011...
strongly condemned the alleged Egyptian authorities' actions against the protests. Danish-Palestinian politician Naser Khader
Naser Khader
Naser Khader is Danish-Syrian and a former member of the Parliament of Denmark for the Conservative Party. As a member of Parliament, he has represented both Social Liberal Party and Liberal Alliance, the latter as founding leader, until January 5, 2009...
urged Mubarak to resign. Danish Foreign Ministry also warned against all travel to Egypt.
Cooperation
In 1940s commercial exchanges between Denmark and Egypt amounted 7 million DKK. An agreement on Culture, Science and Education was signed on 29 October 1972. In 1970, Denmark assisted Egypt with 9.7 million DKK, for wheat and flour.Development assistance
Egypt was from 1989 to 2008 a program country for Denmark. 6 billion dollars were given for the support of the Egyptian projects. Projects, including a wind farm in Zafarana close to Ain SukhnaAin Sukhna
Ain Sukhna, is a town in Suez Governorate, Egypt, lying on the western shore of the Red Sea's Gulf of Suez. It is situated 55 km south of Suez and approximately 120 km east of Cairo.-Etymology:...
.
High level visits
In October 2008, Per Stig MøllerPer Stig Møller
Per Stig Møller was Culture Minister of Denmark. He has been a member of Folketinget for the Conservative People's Party since 1984, and was Minister for the Environment from December 18, 1990 to January 24, 1993 as part of the Cabinet of Poul Schlüter IV and Foreign Minister from November 27,...
visited Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
. Hosni Mubarak visited Denmark in 17 December 2009. A delegation from the Egyptian Education Committee visited Denmark in 2007.