Bilateral Relations between Cyprus and Denmark

OVERVIEW

Bilateral relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Denmark are naturally at an excellent level, as one would expect from two States that share the same set of values and democratic traditions, within the extended family of the European Union.

Relations between Cyprus and Denmark can be traced back more than a thousand years, despite the distance in geography. The earliest references in historical texts appear in the beginning of the 12th century AD and they coincide with the stop in Cyprus by Eric I, King of Denmark, known in Danish as Erik Ejegod (‘Evergood’), while on his way to the Holy Land for a pilgrimage. King Eric in fact fell seriously ill on his journey and passed away in the western town of Paphos, in July of the year 1103, and was subsequently buried in full honours there.

Interaction between Cyprus and Denmark steadily grew and became more and more frequent in the centuries that followed and by the late 18th century it would seem that, according to different sources of the time, a more or less permanent presence of Danish traders was established in Cyprus, based around the southern port of Larnaca, with references to a Danish Consul resident in town appearing more or less at the same time (Cyprus was part of the Ottoman Empire then). Indeed, in the 19th century the Danish Consulate in Larnaca was one of thirteen operating in town, signifying the importance of Cyprus as a hub in the eastern Mediterranean for Danish trade.

Shortly after Cyprus Independence on 16 August 1960, the Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Denmark established diplomatic relations on 2 November of the same year. Holset Beck presented his credentials to then President Archbishop Makarios III on 25 January 1961, becoming the first Danish Ambassador to Cyprus (based in the Danish Embassy in Rome, Italy). The first Cypriot Ambassador to Denmark, Costas Assiotis (based in London), presented his credentials to King Frederick IX on 5 March 1970.

Thirty years later, Cyprus opened a resident Embassy in Copenhagen in September 2000, with Denmark reciprocating with the opening of its own resident Embassy in Nicosia four years later, in September 2004.

In the meantime, Copenhagen would in December 2002 be acquiring a prominent place in the modern history of Cyprus, as the venue of the European Council summit during which Cyprus’ accession (along with that of nine other countries) to the European Union was unequivocally approved. It was very fitting therefore that, only ten years later, in 2012, the governments of Cyprus and Denmark would be tasked to work closely together in the framework of the same 18-month trio Presidency of the European Council (Poland being the other member of the team), that achieved some important results for the future of the Union.

Modern-day ties between Cyprus and Denmark have inevitably been shaped by the contribution made both collectively and individually by the 22,623 courageous Danish peacekeepers who - over a period of almost three decades (1964-1993) – have been stationed on the island as part of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force (UNFICYP) that was established there in 1964.

Tourism, also, has for the past 30 years or so contributed (and continues to do so) in maintaining a good level of communication and exchanges at a people-to-people level, with the number of Danish tourists visiting Cyprus every year ranging between 30-35,000 in the last few years, with approximately 2,500 Cypriots making the journey in the opposite direction every year.

Bilateral trade between the two countries had been growing slowly but steadily over the years up until 2009. Figures have undoubtedly been hit since by the financial crisis, leading to a reversal of the general upward trend in the last few years. As a result, the value of Danish goods and commodities imported to Cyprus for the year 2012 reached €28,5m (with machinery, pharmaceuticals and dairy products topping the list), whilst Cypriot exports and re-exports heading the other way to Denmark during the same period at just below €3,5m (dairy products and pharmaceuticals accounting for more than half of the total amount).

BILATERAL INSTRUMENTS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS AND THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Denmark and Accreditation of an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Denmark in Nicosia
(Exchange of Telegrams)
Copenhagen, 27 September and Nicosia, 2 November 1960
Entered into force 2 November 1960

Exchange of Letters constituting an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on the Abolition of Visa Requirement
Nicosia, 18 May 1962 and Rome, 13 June 1962

Agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Denmark on Commercial Scheduled Air Transport, with Annex and Exchange of Notes
Nicosia, 27 April 1963
Entered into force 19 December 1964

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on the International Carriage of Passengers and Goods by Road
Copenhagen, 26 February 1987 and Nicosia, 15 May 1987

Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Royal Danish Government on the right of presence of military and civilian Danish personnel and other employees of the Kingdom of Denmark in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus, the sailing of vessels in territorial waters, and the use of airspace and roads by aircraft and ground vehicles
Nicosia, 31 October and 13 November 2006
Entered into force 13 November 2006

Agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Denmark for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, with Protocol
Copenhagen, 11 October 2010
Entered into force 7 September 2011

Bilateral Relations between Cyprus and Denmark

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