Håkon Wexelsen Freihow
Encyclopedia
Håkon Wexelsen Freihow is a Norwegian diplomat.
He graduated in political science from the University of Oslo
in 1956, and started working for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in the same year. Early diplomatic posts include services at the embassy in Mexico
, Spain
and the NATO embassy in Belgium
. He was an embassy councellor in Belgium from 1971, and a deputy under-secretary of state in 1979. He served as the Norwegian ambassador to Japan
from 1981 to 1989 and Portugal
from 1992 to 1995. As a side effect of the latter position, he was also the ambassador to Cape Verde
and Guinea-Bissau
from 1993 and Morocco
from 1994.
From 1989 to 1992 he was a "general commissioner" for the Norwegian contribution to Seville Expo '92
. It generated a lot of media coverage in the three years. After the project was finished, it was criticized for a budget deficit of . Freihow had been responsible for the daily affairs of the project, together with Helga Hernes
and vice general commissioner Tore Tanum.
He is the father of writer Halfdan Wexel Freihow
.
He graduated in political science from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1956, and started working for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
in the same year. Early diplomatic posts include services at the embassy in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the NATO embassy in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He was an embassy councellor in Belgium from 1971, and a deputy under-secretary of state in 1979. He served as the Norwegian ambassador to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from 1981 to 1989 and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
from 1992 to 1995. As a side effect of the latter position, he was also the ambassador to Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
and Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
from 1993 and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
from 1994.
From 1989 to 1992 he was a "general commissioner" for the Norwegian contribution to Seville Expo '92
Seville Expo '92
The Universal Exposition of Seville took place from Monday, April 20 to Monday, October 12, 1992 on La Isla de La Cartuja , Seville, Spain. The theme for the Expo was "The Age of Discovery" and over 100 countries were represented...
. It generated a lot of media coverage in the three years. After the project was finished, it was criticized for a budget deficit of . Freihow had been responsible for the daily affairs of the project, together with Helga Hernes
Helga Hernes
Helga Marie Hernes is a Norwegian political scientist, diplomat and politician for the Labour Party.-Early life and education:...
and vice general commissioner Tore Tanum.
He is the father of writer Halfdan Wexel Freihow
Halfdan W. Freihow
Halfdan Wexel Freihow is a Norwegian literary critic, novelist, editor and book publisher.A son of diplomat Håkon Wexelsen Freihow, Halfdan Freihow was born in Mexico City and grew up in Mexico, Spain and Belgium. He graduated from the University of Oslo with a cand.mag. degree...
.