No ambassador wishes to be the person closing down an Embassy. Everyone would like to be the one opening an Embassy. I got both – and on the same posting. So it is official – we will be closing on September 1st. I feel very sorry for my staff that has been working so hard on getting the embassy up and running - quite successfully I think. They are of course highly qualified, so I think they will manage very well in the future – also without their Embassy.
Anyway, this is not a “goodbye” post, solely a sad public announcement to the followers and occasional guests of the blog. We’ll stay in touch.
Thomas
Danish government to close Amman embassy
By Mohammad Ghazal, Jordan Times
AMMAN – The Danish government has decided to close its embassies in Jordan, Algeria, Bosnia and Nicaragua due to budgetary cuts, according to the top Danish diplomat in the Kingdom.
The Amman embassy will shut its doors on September 1, Danish Ambassador to Jordan Thomas Fouad Lund-Sorensen said on Thursday.
“The decision [to close the Amman embassy] is final and regrettable. I am sad that I have to leave Jordan on this note,” the ambassador told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday.
Official diplomatic ties between Jordan and Denmark were established in 1958, and the Danish embassy in Amman was opened in 2007, according to the Danish ambassador.
The Danish presence in Jordan goes as far back as the 1920s when Danish archaeologists worked alongside their Jordanian colleagues at Mount Nebo.
Jordan does not have an embassy in Denmark, but is represented by a consulate, according to the diplomat, who added that Jordan’s embassy in Berlin handles the Kingdom’s affairs in Denmark.
The ambassador said the closure will affect Jordanian-Danish relations, but stressed that the Danish government is keen on limiting the impact as much as possible.
“Denmark is committed to deepening its relations with Jordan and the closure of the embassy does not mean that the partnership programme that started in 2005 will be abandoned,” he said.
Regarding Danish representation in Jordan after the embassy closure, Lund-Sorensen said “it is too early to tell… as no decision has been taken yet”.
In November 2008, a project fully funded by the Danish government was launched to strengthen the professional capacity of law enforcement institutions to prevent torture and ill-treatment and respond appropriately and effectively when such acts occur.
The two-year project, dubbed “Karama”, seeks to ensure that torture and ill-treatment are documented, prosecuted and redressed in accordance with international legal standards.
Denmark has also assisted Jordan in drawing up the law on the Ombudsman Bureau, an independent organisation established in April 2008, to review complaints lodged against any official decision or procedure.
16 April 2010
And in Ammonnews (many interesting comments – best read in arabic))
How unfortunate Thomas. The work you’ve done with Jordan has certainly left an impact in the short time you served here through the new embassy you set up with your team. This too is not a goodbye comment
but rather a creative cookie trail…How does diplomacy evolve through online ecosystems? How do countries transcend the physical presence of an embassy to nurture and grow relations and collaborations? What is the need and role of diplomacy 2.0?
Perhaps the closing of a physical door to a building is needed to open up wonderful new possibilities
That’s very sad to hear…
That is sad! The Danish Embassy is just one of those Embassy that we don’t wish to be closed! I hope some re-assessment would take place and some decisions made to reverse this one.
Sorry `to hear that , I hope you had pleasant experience and Knowledge about this part of this world , I hope when you go home, you can tell your country men and women about the suffering and the prosecution of Palestinian so maybe one day we can all live in a peaceful world ..Thank you for giving the chance to comment on your blog, so long ambassador
Dear Thomas,
It is sad that you had both the pleasure of opening an embassy and closing it. Your and your governments contribution will outlive this decision. Hope that you will keep your transparent attitude of keeping the world abreast of what is happening. Hope that you and your family’s stay in Jordan was educational and entertaining and that you will remember your times here.
hello Thomas
I agree with daoud so sad We need to strengthen cooperation between States and one of the major embassies, diplomatic channels .. such a great loss
Hi there, this is really a bad news. I was hoping to get support from the danish embassy in an unfortunate case of real estate swindle. A native of Jordan screwed me (and Frederiksberg Kommune) in 2005 while he was still living in Denmark. I got aware of the fraud only recently. The man moved out from Denmark in 2007 bringing with him with undue financial means and settled in Aqaba (last known address according to the Folkeregister office I contacted). My chances of finding this man are narrowing greatly now that the embassy is closing … how sad.
Unfortunately this is a very sad news, we were very happy when we heard about the embassy opening in Jordan, I had planes to establish connections with the embassy and the ambassador and planes to work there and to become one of the embassy’s staff, it is really a loss to lose you Mr. Thomas here in Jordan because I know how active, encouraging and kind person you are. But why not to keep the embassy in Jordan and to close the one in Syria since the embassy has experienced troubles their!
Deeply saddenned by the news, and even more so by the Arabic commentaries in the link you had kindly posted here too. Many thanks for your efforts to help the marginalized segments of this society, and rest assured that the lit candles you will leave behind you, will continue to disturb the surrounding darkness. Wishing you all the very best, and hope Denmark’s good work and efforts will continue to support the excellent projects that are yet to see the light.
Just read this now, so sorry to read about it. Hopefully will see you again in Jordan