Development assistance:
• In the last ten years Denmark has donated several hundreds of million USD in bilateral and multilateral development assistance to the Arab world, notably the Palestinians, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen and Jordan. • Since the Oslo accords in 1993-94 Denmark has provided more than 165 million USD in development assistance to the Palestinians. This assistance includes programmes on capacity building of public authorities, local development to support poverty reduction in the Gaza strip, agricultural development and various civil society initiatives. • Denmark has been one of the largest donors to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) since its establishment in 1949. In the last five years Denmark has thus contributed more than 55 million USD to the regular budget and emergency appeals of UNRWA. The Dane Peter Hansen has served as Commissioner-General of UNRWA from 1996 to 2005.• Denmark has pledged app. 118 mio. USD (589 mio. DKK) in December 2007 in Paris earmarked to the Palestinians for the period 2008-2010, principally through bilateral transitional assistance, the World Bank and UNRWA.• The Danish government has in December 2007 approved another 20 mio. USD for reconstruction efforts in Iraq up to 2010. The Danish contribution for reconstruction and humanitarian aid in the period from 2003 to 2010 all in all amounts to app. 140 mio. USD (695 mio DKK). The assistance in the Basra province was primarily devoted to the development of democratic institutions, infrastructure and agriculture. However, in agreement with the Iraqi government the focus of Danish assistance in 2007 shifted to capacity building within key central government ministries in Baghdad. Most of the projects in the Basra province are completed and have been transferred to Iraqi partners.• Since 2002 Denmark has assisted the development of Afghanistan with 180 million USD. For the period 2008 – 2012 an annual contribution of 50 million USD is expected to be allocated for development assistance to Afghanistan. • In 2003 the Danish Government launched the Partnership for Progress and Reform. This long-term initiative, which has an annual budget of 20 million USD, aims at promoting dialogue between Denmark and the Arab world as well as supporting local reform efforts in the Middle East. Bilateral partnerships have hitherto been established with Yemen, Jordan and Morocco – and tangible project results have already been achieved. Moreover, thematic programmes on media, labour market, youth, human rights and cultural exchange are being implemented in cooperation with Arab civil society organizations. • Likewise, Denmark is an active participant in Forum for the Future. Denmark has contributed 3 million USD to the initiative and the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs has participated actively in all the meetings of the Forum. • Another app. 5 million USD has been allocated for human rights and democracy activities in Lebanon in 2008.• Denmark is also contributing to the Lebanese efforts to strengthen its Northern border. • Finally, Denmark provides a proportional contribution to the European Union’s comprehensive development assistance to the Arab world (in particular the MEDA programme).
Conflict prevention:
• Denmark is part of the multinational forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan we are present with around 665 troops, most of which are operating in Helmand province in Southern Afghanistan. The Danish troops are part of the NATO-led ISAF-force. In Iraq we are present with 14 military trainers in NATO’s training mission and an additional six military trainers in the Coalition training program. Furthermore, Denmark has three military advisors assigned to UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq). • Denmark has always been a significant contributor of military, police and civilian personnel for international peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East, including the UNEF (Gaza), UNTSO (Middle East), UNDOF (Golan Heights), UNIFIL (Lebanon) and MINURSO (Western Sahara). • Since 1997 Denmark has been actively engaged in the Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron (TIPH) through financial contributions (more than 16 million USD) and the deployment of a significant number of police and civilian personnel.• Denmark deploys police officers to the EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) and to the EU Border Assistance Mission at Rafah Crossing Point in Gaza (EU BAM Rafah). • During its EU presidency in 2002 Denmark played an important role in the development of the Middle East Quartet’s Road Map for the Middle East Peace Process. This engagement was lately followed up by active Danish participation in the formulation of the EU Action Plan that was welcomed at the European Council meeting on the 19th November 2007.• Finally, Denmark supports a series of non-governmental initiatives aimed at promoting regional peace and security. Recently Denmark has sponsored a series of low profile meetings between centrally placed persons from PA and Israel that have formulated common suggestions for solutions on key final status issues that have been handed over to Olmert, Livni, Abbas and the US administration. Former Danish engagement in track 2 efforts also include the International Alliance for Arab-Israeli Peace (originally launched at the Danish museum Louisiana), the Geneva Initiative and a Consortium of Research Institutes committed to the long-term establishment of a regional security and cooperation structure in the Middle East.
