Denmark–Turkey relations

Danish-Turkish relations
Map indicating locations of Denmark and Turkey

Denmark
Turkey

Denmark–Turkey relations are the current and historical relations between Denmark and Turkey. Denmark has an embassy in Ankara,[1] and Turkey has an embassy in Copenhagen.[2] Both countries are members of NATO and Council of Europe. Diplomatic relations between Denmark and Turkey were put under pressure in 2014 because of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy and the Roj TV affair (Roj TV's broadcasting license was suspended by the Supreme Court in Denmark on February 27, 2014[3]).[4][5] Denmark is a member of the European Union, Turkey is not a member.

History

These relations date back 250 years and actually started in the field of trade in the 18th century. On 14 October 1756, an Agreement of Friendship and Trade was signed by the Sultan Osman III and the King Frederick V. In 1758, Denmark has appointed an extraordinary representative to the Ottoman Empire.[6]

Thirty Years' War

From 1618 to 1648, Denmark and the Ottoman Empire fought together against the Holy Roman Empire as allies, from 1618 to 1629.[7] In 1643, Denmark aligned with the Catholic powers against Ottoman Empire and Sweden.[8]

Great Northern War

In the Great Northern War, Denmark and the Ottoman Empire were at war against each other.

French Revolutionary Wars

In the War of the Second Coalition, Denmark and the Ottoman Empire were at war against each other.

Napoleonic Wars

Both Denmark, France and the Ottoman Empire were allies during the Napoleonic Wars from 1803 to 1815, against United Kingdom, Austria, Russia and Sweden.

20th century

During the Turkish–Armenian War in 1920, Denmark acted as a mediator in the war between Armenia and Turkey.[9][10][11] A commercial agreement was signed in Ankara (Angora) in 1926.[12] A Treaty of Establishment, Commerce and Navigation was signed between Denmark and Turkey in 1930.[13] In 1932, both countries signed a conciliation treaty in Geneva, Switzerland.[14] In 1948, a payment agreement were signed.[15]

On 26 November 1999, a "Joint Action Plan" cooperation in politics, security and defense was signed when Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem visited Denmark.[4] In October 2021, in the wake of the appeal for the release of Turkish activist Osman Kavala signed by 10 western countries, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ordered his foreign minister to declare the Danish ambassador persona non grata, alongside the other 9 ambassadors.[16] Following a statement by the ambassadors, reiterating their compliance with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations regarding the diplomatic duty not to interfere in host states’ internal affairs, President Erdoğan decided to not expel the ambassadors.[17]

Cartoon crisis

Bilateral relations between Denmark and Turkey were strained, when Danish newspaper Jyllandsposten published cartoons of Muhammed.[18] Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the publication, and criticized Denmark. Erdoğan was quoted in the Turkish press saying: "Caricatures of prophet Muhammad are an attack against our spiritual values. There should be a limit of freedom of press."[19]

Roj TV affair

Turkey claims the channel is a mouthpiece for the Kurdistan Workers Party, whom they regard as a terrorist organization, and have lobbied the Danish government to revoke Roj TV's broadcasting license.[20] A Turkish Foreign Ministry official stated: "We know for sure that Roj TV is part of the PKK, a terrorist organization... [The PKK] is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU. Denmark is a member of the EU, and we would expect that the broadcasting organization of a terrorist group would not be given a free pass."[20] While the station's general manager, Manouchehr Tahsili Zonoozi, an Iranian Kurd, acknowledges that the station maintains contact with the PKK, he characterizes it as an independent Kurdish broadcaster, which is not under the control of the PKK.[20] The Turkish authorities have repeatedly made formal complaints to the Danish Radio and Television Board regarding Roj TV, but to date none of the complaints has been upheld by the Board, who have ruled that the TV channel has not violated any rules over which the Board has regulatory power.[21]

As part of the United States diplomatic cables leak of November 2010, a diplomatic message surfaced that referred to a Turkish representative's claim that, "as part of the 2009 POTUS-brokered deal that had overcome Turkish objections to the appointment of Anders Fogh Rasmussen as NATO Secretary General, Denmark had promised to clarify its legal requirements prerequiste [sic] to acceding to Turkey's request for the closure of Roj TV"[22]

Roj TV's broadcasting license was suspended by the Supreme Court in Denmark on February 27, 2014.[3]

Economic relations

The economic relations favours the Turkish exports. In 2004, Turkish exports to Denmark rose by 40%. The current value of trade stands at $979.6m US dollars.[23]

Resident diplomatic missions

  • Embassy of Turkey in Copenhagen
    Embassy of Turkey in Copenhagen

Honorary consulates

Denmark also has an honorary consulates in Alanya, Antalya, Gaziantep, İzmir, Marmaris and Mersin. Turkey also has an honorary consulates in Aarhus.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Embassy of Denmark in Turkey". Government of Denmark. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Turkish embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark". Government of Turkey. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Supremecourt - ROJ TV – Disqualification". www.supremecourt.dk. Archived from the original on 2014-03-18.
  4. ^ a b "Turkish-Danish Relations: Possible to Make A New Start?". Bilgesam.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Turkey, Denmark in row over Kurdish TV station". EuroActiv.com. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Danish Business Delegation to Turkey" (PDF). Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2010. Trade between our two countries can be dated centuries back. In 1756 Denmark and The Ottoman Empire signed a treaty on commerce and friendship, which paved the way for closer ties – both human and commercial between our two people...
  7. ^ 1625-1629. Aligned with the Catholic Powers 1643-1645.
  8. ^ "Thirty Years' War". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  9. ^ "Denmark may be chosen as mediator in Armenia". The Providence Journal. Vol. 28, no. 28. 29 November 1920. p. 26. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  10. ^ Ralph Courtney (29 November 1920). "Denmark ready to undertake Armenia duty". The Baltimore News. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  11. ^ "Denmark may accept mandate from Armenia". Los Angeles Times. 29 November 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Exchange of Notes constituting a Provisional Commercial Agreement, signed at Angora, March 22, 1926" (PDF). League of Nations (United Nations). p. 3. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  13. ^ "Treaty of Establishment, Commerce and Navigation, with Final Protocol. Signed at Ankara, May 31" (PDF). p. 10. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  14. ^ "DENMARK AND TURKEY Treaty of Conciliation, Judicial Settlement and Arbitration. Signed at Geneva, March 8, 1932" (PDF). League of Nations / United Nations. p. 7. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  15. ^ "Payments Agreement (with protocol and exchange of letters) Signed at Ankara, on 15 December 1948" (PDF). p. 7. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  16. ^ "Turkey to declare 10 ambassadors 'persona non grata'". dw.com. 23 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Erdoğan backpedals, says 10 Western envoys can stay in Turkey". POLITICO. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  18. ^ “After the Danish Cartoon controversy”, The Middle East Quarterly, Winter 2007, pp. 3-11.
  19. ^ MacAskill, Ewen (2006-02-04). "Cartoon controversy spreads throughout Muslim world". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  20. ^ a b c "Denmark, again? Now it's under fire for hosting Kurdish TV station". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  21. ^ "Decision regarding complaint from the Radio and Television Supreme Council" (PDF). 3 May 2007. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  22. ^ "US embassy cables: US steps up pressure on Turkey over Iran". The Guardian. London. November 28, 2010.
  23. ^ "The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey - Turkey - Denmark Relations". Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
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