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Denmark returns to Damascus
Denmark reopened its embassy in Damascus on Monday after a 14-year-long break in diplomatic activities that began when Syria’s civil war erupted, according to state media SANA.
“Denmark reopened its embassy in Damascus on Monday after a yearslong suspension of diplomatic activities”
SANA said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen reopened the outpost “after a 14-year-long break,” accompanied by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani.
DW reported the reopening ceremony was held after Denmark had suspended its diplomatic operations in Syria for nearly 14 years, and it framed the move as part of a gradual improvement in Damascus’ relations with Syria and several European countries.
The Arab News PK report tied the shift to the end of Assad’s rule, saying Syria’s new authorities toppled Assad in December 2024 and have relaunched diplomatic ties with the international community including countries in Europe.
Arab News PK also said several European countries shut their embassies and cut diplomatic ties with Bashar Assad after his government brutally repressed pro-democracy protests in 2011, triggering nearly 14 years of civil war.
Syrian and Danish statements
Asaad Al-Shaibani told SANA that “A new chapter is being written in Syrian-Danish relations, and this step encourages the rest of the European countries to invest in Syria and follow suit,” linking the embassy reopening to European investment and diplomatic follow-through.
The Anadolu Ajansı report said President Bashar al-Assad met Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen at the People’s Palace in Damascus with the presence of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Sha’bani to discuss cooperation in recovery and reconstruction.
Anadolu Ajansı added that the meeting discussed strengthening relations and exploring cooperation in recovery to contribute to supporting stability in Syria.
The التلفزيون العربي report described the reopening as ending a diplomatic representation gap that lasted about 14 years, and it said Osayed Hassan Al-Shaibani told SANA that the step marks “the beginning of a new phase in the course of relations between the two countries.”
Euronews said the reopening was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister and Expatriates Ayad Hassan al-Shibani and his Danish counterpart, Lars Lok Rasmuson, and it described the return as encouraging other European states to take similar steps.
Reconstruction, refugees, and diplomacy
Rasmussen said Denmark provided Syrians with “a place and a safe haven during the difficult years,” and the صحيفه الوطن السورية report added that Syrians learned Danish and participated in building the Danish economy.
““a place and a safe haven during the difficult years,””
The صحيفه الوطن السورية report said Rasmussen revealed Denmark earmarked this year an additional amount of $76 million for early recovery operations, stabilization support, and the return of refugees.
Euronews placed the embassy reopening within a broader European effort to reestablish diplomatic contact with Damascus, noting that France had announced an agreement to begin exchanging ambassadors after Paris closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012.
The Al-Jazirah Net report said the reopening came amid a rising diplomatic drive to reopen Western and European missions in Damascus after they were closed following the 2011 uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Arab News PK said Syria’s new authorities have relaunched diplomatic ties with the international community including countries in Europe, where hundreds of thousands of Syrians fled as refugees during the conflict.