Denmark–Eritrea relations
Encyclopedia
Denmark–Eritrea relations refers to the current and historical relations
between Denmark
and Eritrea
. Denmark is represented in Eritrea through its embassy in Nairobi
, Kenya
, and Eritrea is represented in Denmark through its embassy in Stockholm
, Sweden
. Diplomatic relations were established on 1993. Relations between Denmark and Eritrea have been bad, since Denmark decided to suspend development cooperation with Eritrea in January 2002, and close its embassy in June 2002. After the Eritrean–Ethiopian War from 1998 to 2000, Denmark sent 320 soldiers to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
to monitor a ceasefire in the border war.
. During the Eritrean War of Independence
, Denmark sent humanitarian assistance to the Eritrean People's Liberation Front
. In the 1980s, the parliament of Denmark passed a resolution supporting the independence in Eritrea.
Denmark opened an embassy in Asmara
in July 1997, but closed it in June 2002, because of the lack of democracy in the country. In October 2001, Eritrea expelled the Italian ambassador, and later Denmark recalled its ambassador to Eritrea for consultations. In 2001, Denmark ended aid to Eritrea because of the arrest of Eritrean students and opposition politicians by President Isaias Afewerki
, and the lack of freedom of the press
in Eritrea. Another reason was the new liberal government of Denmark, that decided to reduce the aid budget.
. In 1996, Denmark contributed $35,000 through United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
and in 1997, $111,000 through United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
to Eritrea. In 1996, Denmark assisted 112 million DKK to the agriculture sector, and 80 million DKK to the education sector. The total aid to the Eritrean agricultural programme amounted 112 million DKK. (USD 15 million) From 2001 to 2004, Denmark assisted Eritrea 36.60 million DKK for the justice sector. In 2001, both countries agreed to develop the legal sector. In 2001, Denmark donated $2.199 million to support the clearance of landmines
in Eritrea.
In February 2001, Danish Foreign Minister Mogens Lykketoft
visited Eritrea, to discuss development progammes between Denmark and Eritrea.
Bilateralism
Bilateralism consists of the political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. For example, free trade agreements signed by two states are examples of bilateral treaties. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which refers to the conduct of diplomacy by a...
between Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. Denmark is represented in Eritrea through its embassy in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and Eritrea is represented in Denmark through its embassy in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Diplomatic relations were established on 1993. Relations between Denmark and Eritrea have been bad, since Denmark decided to suspend development cooperation with Eritrea in January 2002, and close its embassy in June 2002. After the Eritrean–Ethiopian War from 1998 to 2000, Denmark sent 320 soldiers to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea was established by the United Nations Security Council in July 2000 to monitor a ceasefire in the border war that began in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea....
to monitor a ceasefire in the border war.
History
In 1950, Denmark and 15 other countries voted for a united Eritrea and Ethiopia under Haile Selassie in the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. During the Eritrean War of Independence
Eritrean War of Independence
The Eritrean War of Independence was a conflict fought between the Ethiopian government and Eritrean separatists, both before and during the Ethiopian Civil War. The war started when Eritrea’s autonomy within Ethiopia, where troops were already stationed, was unilaterally revoked...
, Denmark sent humanitarian assistance to the Eritrean People's Liberation Front
Eritrean People's Liberation Front
The Eritrean People's Liberation Front was an armed organization that fought for the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia. It emerged in 1970 as an intellectual left-wing group that split from the Eritrean Liberation Front .-Background:...
. In the 1980s, the parliament of Denmark passed a resolution supporting the independence in Eritrea.
Denmark opened an embassy in Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
in July 1997, but closed it in June 2002, because of the lack of democracy in the country. In October 2001, Eritrea expelled the Italian ambassador, and later Denmark recalled its ambassador to Eritrea for consultations. In 2001, Denmark ended aid to Eritrea because of the arrest of Eritrean students and opposition politicians by President Isaias Afewerki
Isaias Afewerki
Isaias Afewerki is the first and current President of Eritrea, attaining that status when he led the Eritrean People's Liberation Front to victory in May 1991, thus ending the 30-year old armed liberation struggle that the Eritrean people refer to as "Gedli".-Early life and rise to power:Afewerki...
, and the lack of freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
in Eritrea. Another reason was the new liberal government of Denmark, that decided to reduce the aid budget.
Development assistance
Eritrea was chosen as a Danish programme country from 1993 to 1996, and again from 1999 to 2001. Denmark has been supporting Eritrea with counteracting land degradationLand degradation
Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by one or more combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land....
. In 1996, Denmark contributed $35,000 through United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies...
and in 1997, $111,000 through United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization is an organization founded on 29 May 1948 for peacekeeping in the Middle East. Its primary task was providing the military command structure to the peace keeping forces in the Middle East to enable the peace keepers to observe and maintain the...
to Eritrea. In 1996, Denmark assisted 112 million DKK to the agriculture sector, and 80 million DKK to the education sector. The total aid to the Eritrean agricultural programme amounted 112 million DKK. (USD 15 million) From 2001 to 2004, Denmark assisted Eritrea 36.60 million DKK for the justice sector. In 2001, both countries agreed to develop the legal sector. In 2001, Denmark donated $2.199 million to support the clearance of landmines
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
in Eritrea.
High level visits
In the 2000 Arab League summit in Cairo, Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki met Prince Frederik and called the relationship between Denmark and Eritrea "exemplary".In February 2001, Danish Foreign Minister Mogens Lykketoft
Mogens Lykketoft
Mogens Lykketoft is a Danish politician, former government minister and current Speaker of the Folketing. In December 2002 he succeeded former Danish prime minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen as leader of the Social Democratic party ....
visited Eritrea, to discuss development progammes between Denmark and Eritrea.