Denmark–Ethiopia relations

Denmark-Ethiopia relations

Denmark
Ethiopia

Denmark–Ethiopia relations refers to the current and historical relations between Denmark and Ethiopia. Denmark has an embassy in Addis Ababa,[1] and Ethiopia is represented in Denmark through its embassy in London.[2] Diplomatic relations were established in the 1960s and since then the relations between Denmark and Ethiopia has had their ups and downs.[3] In 2008, Ethiopian export to Denmark amounted 6,5 million DKK, while Danish export amounted 40,3 million DKK. Denmark provides aid and assistance to Ethiopia through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).[4] Ethiopia is a partner country for the DANIDA.[5]

In 1954, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie visited Denmark on a state visit, and the Danish government awarded him the highest order of Denmark, the Order of the Elephant.[6] Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller and Defence Minister Søren Gade visited Ethiopia in 2004, to meet the chairman of the African Union in Abbis Ababa.[7] In 2007, Danish Development Minister Ulla Tørnæs visited the Semien Wollo Zone.[8]

History

Many Danish missionaries and traders visited Ethiopia through the 20th century. Danes and other Scandinavians helped with the building of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.[9] In June 1935, just before the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, Denmark had stopped the shipments of arms to Ethiopia,[10][11] and prevented Ethiopia from buying munitions.[12] When the war started, Denmark lifted their ban and ended their embargo.[13][14] In 1950, Denmark and 15 other countries voted for a united Eritrea and Ethiopia under Haile Selassie in the United Nations.[15] During the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia, Denmark with Norway contributed a total of 27,5 million dollars.[16]

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.[17]

In April 2001, Danish Foreign Minister Mogens Lykketoft visited Ethiopia and called for the strengthen of its relations with Ethiopia.[18]

Denmark opened an embassy in Ethiopia in 2004[9] and in November 2011, Ethiopia signed an air service agreement with Denmark.[19]

Danish assistance

Danish NGO DanChurchAid assisted with a budget on 17 million DKK for a soil and water conservation programme in Dire Dawa. Since 1994, Denmark assisted with 2,3 million dollars for a fuelwood plantation project in Ethiopia.[20] From 1992 to 1994, Denmark provided 80 million DKK to Ethiopia for the reconstruction of the country.[21] From 2004 to 2008, Denmark provided more than 140 million DKK to Ethiopia.[22] In 2008 and 2009, the Danish aid to Ethiopia amounted 100 million DKK.[23] During the 2011 East Africa drought in Ethiopia and neighboring countries, Denmark has contributed with 130 million DKK to the region.[24]

References

  1. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "Danish embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia". Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Diplomatic Missions in Denmark". Government of Denmark. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  3. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. "Bilateral relations [search for Denmark]". Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Landefakta Etiopien" (in Danish). WayBack Machine. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "Afrika". Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Haile Selassie". Berlingske (in Danish). 21 February 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  7. ↑ "2 danske ministre til Sudan og Etiopien - Per Stig vil underskrive aftale om 72 mio. kr. til programmet Afrika for Fred". Ulandsnyt. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  8. ↑ Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (21 June 2007). "Danish Minister of Development visits Ethiopia". Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (4 October 2005). "Udviklingsbistand gør en forskel for Etiopiens fattigste". Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (in Danish). Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  10. ↑ "Italo - Ethiopia". Sarasota Herald. 11 July 1935. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  11. ↑ "War proceeds as report from League of Nations clears Ethiopians". Ellensburg Daily Record. 5 October 1935. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  12. ↑ "ETHIOPIA CHARGES ARMS WERE HELD UP; Emperor Says France, Belgium, Denmark and Czechoslovakia Blocked Shipments.". New York Times. 30 June 1935. p. 26. Retrieved 27 December 2011. Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia charged today that France, Belgium, Denmark and Czechoslovakia had prevented his government from buying munitions in ...
  13. ↑ "Denmark to Lift Ban on Ethiopia". New York Times. 13 October 1935. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  14. ↑ "BRITAIN WILL LIFT ETHIOPIA ARMS BAN; Awaits League Notification of Act by Assembly -- Denmark Also to End Embargo.". New York Times. 13 October 1935. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  15. ↑ "Ethiopia, Eritrea to merge" 14. Iowa: Telegraph Herald. 3 December 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 27 December 2011. Besides the United States, the sponsoring powers were Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, Greece, Liberia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru
  16. ↑ Kurt Jansson, Michael Harris, Angela Penrose (1990). The Ethiopian famine. Zed Books. p. 219. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  17. ↑ "Moralens vogtere". Jyllandsposten (in Danish). 4 April 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  18. ↑ "Ethiopia: Danish foreign minister arrives in Addis Ababa". BBC Monitoring. 24 April 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  19. ↑ "Ethiopia Signs Air Service Agreement with 11 Countries". 4 November 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  20. ↑ "UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: Report from Denmark". April 2000. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  21. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "Bekendtgørelse om overenskomst af 20. november 1992 med Etiopien om dansk overgangsbistand til genopbygning af landet" (in Danish). Retsinformation. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  22. ↑ "Vagthund: Bistand til Etiopien bruges til at undertrykke oppositionen". Ulandsnyt. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  23. ↑ "Danidas årsberetning 2009" (in Danish). Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  24. ↑ "Danmark sender yderligere nødhjælp til hungersnøden på Afrikas Horn". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

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