Denmark reopens embassy in Syria after 14 years

Denmark has reopened its embassy in Damascus after 14 years, with Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen travelling to Syria for the occasion.

The embassy has been closed to the public since 2012, when Syria’s civil war was raging. Rasmussen said Denmark was among the first European Union countries to reopen its embassy after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with an ambassador posted there.

“We are among the first EU countries to reopen our embassy in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime with an ambassador posted there,” Rasmussen said. He said Denmark wanted to influence developments in Syria in a positive direction and contribute to rebuilding the country.

The decision to reopen the embassy was made in January. According to the foreign minister, it is intended to strengthen Denmark’s diplomatic relationship with Syria’s transitional government and cooperation on the voluntary return and deportation of Syrians living in Denmark without legal residence.

The move marks a return to a formal Danish diplomatic presence in Damascus after more than a decade of closure.

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We are among the first EU countries to reopen our embassy in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime with an ambassador posted there. We are doing this to better influence developments in Syria in a positive direction and contribute to rebuilding the country.