Denmark–Libya relations
Encyclopedia
Denmark-Libya relations refers to the current and historical relations
between Denmark
and Libya
. Bilateral relations are tense because of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
and the 2011 military intervention in Libya
. Denmark is represented in Libya, through its embassy in Cairo
, Egypt
.
, and recognize Libya as an independent state.
incident, Denmark with France
, Australia
and the United Kingdom
abstained from voting in the United Nations Security Council
. After the 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing
, Denmark ordered the Libyan diplomats in Denmark to leave the country. As a response to the expels, the Libyan government expelled a diplomat from Denmark. In January 2006, the Libyan Government closed their embassy in Denmark, as a protest against the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. In 2008, Libya boycotted Danish companies, and excluded Danish companies from big infrastructure projects worth 126.5 billion dollars.
met with National Transitional Council representative Ali Zeidan. On 25 March, Danish politician Naser Khader
supported a Danish recognition of the National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya. On 19 April, The Libyan Observatory for Democracy and Human Rights, a non-governmental organization
and umbrella organization
for the National Transitional Council opened an office in Copenhagen
. Denmark was among the countries a council spokesman said on 5 May 2011 had recognized the National Transitional Council as the Libyan government. However, Danish government spokesperson Jean Ellermann Kingombe said Copenhagen
hadn't taken that step but considers the council "a relevant partner for dialogue". On 22 June, Denmark recognized the National Transitional Council
as the sole legitimate representative of Libya.
, the Danish Development Minister
Søren Pind
assisted the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
with 30 million DKK to help the Libyan people who have fled to Egypt and Tunisia
. On 22 March, Libyan state television launched a propaganda offensive against Denmark, accusing Denmark of having led a campaign against Muslims for several years.
In April, DanChurchAid
sent some deminers to clear mines
in Libya. In early April 2011, Denmark considered receiving about 10 Libyan refugees from Lampedusa
, Italy
. The Danish government considered imposing a freeze on Libyan assets in Denmark. Muammar Gaddafi
had about 25 million DKK in Denmark. During the war, the Danish Foreign Ministry made a temporary travel advice for Libya on their website. Libyan consul general to Denmark, Munir Eldawadi, was expelled from Denmark and declared a persona non grata
in May 2011. On 9 August 2011, Denmark gave two Libyan diplomats, loyal to Gaddafi, Saleh Omar AbuRwesha and Khaled Mansour Salem el-Asfar five days to leave Denmark, and both were declared persona non grata.
authorized direct military action by its air force to help enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973, marking the only time so far in the state's history that military commitment was supported by full parliamentary unity. The Royal Danish Air Force
is participating with six F-16AM fighters, one C-130J-30 Super Hercules military transport plane and the corresponding ground crews. Only four F-16s will be used for offensive operations, while the remaining two will act as reserves. The first airstrikes from Danish aircraft were carried out on 23 March with four aircraft making twelve sorties as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn
. The Guardian
reported in May 2011, that Danish F-16 fighters killed Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Arab Gaddafi.
In June, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
praised Denmark, Canada and Norway, saying that although those two countries had only provided twelve percent of the aircraft to the operation, their aircraft had conducted one-third of the strikes.
lost a lawsuit he brought in Denmark against Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet
. Ekstra Bladet reported that in 2005, Gaddafi, then a student in Copenhagen, had directed the abduction and beating of a Libyan national at the home of the Libyan consul
in Gentofte
. Gaddafi failed to appear in court to present his side of the case, and the court ruled that the existing evidence supported Ekstra Bladet's version of events.
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 Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. Bilateral relations are tense because of 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...
and the 2011 military intervention in Libya
2011 military intervention in Libya
On 19 March 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which was taken in response to events during the 2011 Libyan civil war...
. Denmark is represented in Libya, through its embassy in Cairo
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...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Kingdom of Libya
In January 1952, Denmark and eleven other countries sponsored a resolution to admid Libya under King Idris to 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...
, and recognize Libya as an independent state.
The Gaddafi Era
After the Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114
Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 was a regularly scheduled flight from Tripoli to Cairo via Benghazi shot down by Israeli fighter jets in 1973....
incident, Denmark with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
abstained from voting in the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
. After the 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing
1986 Berlin discotheque bombing
The 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing was a terrorist attack on the La Belle discothèque in West Berlin, Germany, an entertainment venue that was commonly frequented by United States soldiers...
, Denmark ordered the Libyan diplomats in Denmark to leave the country. As a response to the expels, the Libyan government expelled a diplomat from Denmark. In January 2006, the Libyan Government closed their embassy in Denmark, as a protest against the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. In 2008, Libya boycotted Danish companies, and excluded Danish companies from big infrastructure projects worth 126.5 billion dollars.
National Transitional Council
On 18 March, Danish Foreign Minister 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...
met with National Transitional Council representative Ali Zeidan. On 25 March, Danish 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...
supported a Danish recognition of the National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya. On 19 April, The Libyan Observatory for Democracy and Human Rights, a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
and umbrella organization
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
for the National Transitional Council opened an office 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...
. Denmark was among the countries a council spokesman said on 5 May 2011 had recognized the National Transitional Council as the Libyan government. However, Danish government spokesperson Jean Ellermann Kingombe said 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...
hadn't taken that step but considers the council "a relevant partner for dialogue". On 22 June, Denmark recognized the National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
as the sole legitimate representative of Libya.
Libyan civil war
On 5 March, during the 2011 Libyan civil war2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
, the Danish Development Minister
Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark
Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark is a Danish minister office. The office was introduced with the Cabinet of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I on 25 January 1993. The minister works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark...
Søren Pind
Søren Pind
Søren Pind is a Danish politician. A member of the center-right party Venstre, he was appointed Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration in March 2011....
assisted the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
with 30 million DKK to help the Libyan people who have fled to Egypt and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. On 22 March, Libyan state television launched a propaganda offensive against Denmark, accusing Denmark of having led a campaign against Muslims for several years.
In April, DanChurchAid
DanChurchAid
DanChurchAid is one of the major Danish humanitarian non governmental organisations , working with churches and non-religious civil organisations to assist the poorest of the poor.DanChurchAid carries out its work with the objective:...
sent some deminers to clear mines
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 Libya. In early April 2011, Denmark considered receiving about 10 Libyan refugees from Lampedusa
Lampedusa
Lampedusa is the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The comune of Lampedusa e Linosa is part of the Sicilian province of Agrigento which also includes the smaller islands of Linosa and Lampione. It is the southernmost part of Italy. Tunisia, which is about ...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The Danish government considered imposing a freeze on Libyan assets in Denmark. Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
had about 25 million DKK in Denmark. During the war, the Danish Foreign Ministry made a temporary travel advice for Libya on their website. Libyan consul general to Denmark, Munir Eldawadi, was expelled from Denmark and declared a persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
in May 2011. On 9 August 2011, Denmark gave two Libyan diplomats, loyal to Gaddafi, Saleh Omar AbuRwesha and Khaled Mansour Salem el-Asfar five days to leave Denmark, and both were declared persona non grata.
Operation Odyssey Dawn
On 13 March, by unanimous vote, Denmark's ParliamentFolketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
authorized direct military action by its air force to help enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973, marking the only time so far in the state's history that military commitment was supported by full parliamentary unity. The Royal Danish Air Force
Royal Danish Air Force
The Royal Danish Air Force is the air force of Denmark with the capability to undertake homeland defense and homeland security roles as well international operations.-History:...
is participating with six F-16AM fighters, one C-130J-30 Super Hercules military transport plane and the corresponding ground crews. Only four F-16s will be used for offensive operations, while the remaining two will act as reserves. The first airstrikes from Danish aircraft were carried out on 23 March with four aircraft making twelve sorties as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn
Operation Odyssey Dawn
Operation Odyssey Dawn was the U.S. code name for the US part of the international military operation in Libya to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. during the initial period of 19–31 March 2011, which continued afterwards under NATO command as Operation Unified Protector...
. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported in May 2011, that Danish F-16 fighters killed Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Arab Gaddafi.
In June, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
praised Denmark, Canada and Norway, saying that although those two countries had only provided twelve percent of the aircraft to the operation, their aircraft had conducted one-third of the strikes.
Hannibal Gaddafi
In 2008, Hannibal Muammar GaddafiHannibal Muammar Gaddafi
Hannibal Muammar Gaddafi is the fourth son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his second wife, Safia Farkash.-Biography:Gaddafi started his maritime career by joining the Marine Academy of Maritime Studies/Libya in 1993 as a Deck Cadet...
lost a lawsuit he brought in Denmark against Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet
Ekstra Bladet
Ekstra Bladet is a Danish tabloid newspaper focusing on sensationalist stories. It gets a share of its income from sex ads. Since 1979 it has always had a partly or completely naked woman on page nine which is referred to as Side 9 Pigen , a Danish equivalent of the English Page Three girl...
. Ekstra Bladet reported that in 2005, Gaddafi, then a student in Copenhagen, had directed the abduction and beating of a Libyan national at the home of the Libyan consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
in Gentofte
Gentofte
Gentofte Kommune is a municipality in the Capital Region of Denmark on the east coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 68,913...
. Gaddafi failed to appear in court to present his side of the case, and the court ruled that the existing evidence supported Ekstra Bladet's version of events.
Gaddafi quotes about Denmark
- "Libyans do not know Denmark, they do not hate Denmark. They know Italy and they hate Italy."
- "The protesters were determined to kill the consul and his family when they attacked the Italian consulate in Benghazi. These protesters did not target Denmark because they have no idea about Denmark."