Denmark to open embassy in Abuja by August

Denmark has concluded arrangements to open an embassy in Abuja by August this year, Holger Nielsen, the  Danish Foreign Minister , said on the sidelines of the ongoing 22nd summit of the African Union.

Speaking  on Tuesday, during a meeting with Nigeria’s Acting Foreign Minister, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Nielsen appealed to the federal government to reciprocate the gesture by having a diplomatic presence in Denmark.

Nigeria’s foreign mission in Stockholm has concurrent accreditation to the three Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Nielsen, however, said a diplomatic mission in Nigeria would boost trade and diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Holger Nielsen, the Danish Foreign Minister, asked Nigeria to reciprocate the gesture

The minister, who hinted that he would visit Nigeria in June, hailed Nigeria’s election into the non-

permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the 2014/2015 period,

He also commended Nigeria’s contributions to regional peace and security through peacekeeping operations.

Nielsen particularly cited its role in resolving the conflict in Cote d’Ivoire and Mali.

Responding, Onwuliri urged Denmark to support Nigeria’s two-year presidency of Community of Democracy, which would begin in February 2015.

She noted Nigeria’s current presidency of the Global Power Women Network Africa and stressed the need for Denmark’s support to the group’s objective.

The network brings together women ministers, parliamentarians and judges, to address issues of HIV and AIDS, and more generally, women’s empowerment.

Source:Information Nigeria