Danish Public Diplomacy and the Arabian Initiative

Last week the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark released a summary report with an analysis of the "Arabian Initiative".

This is interesting reading as it tries to gauge the impact of the Cartoon-crisis on the "Arabian Initiative", the Danish drive at spreading democracy in the Middle East.

Apart from pointing a finger at the Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and his reluctance to enter a dialogue with the Middle Eastern diplomats, it also touches on the effort for public diplomacy.

In a very short passus it recommends a strengthened effort in public diplomacy towards the region "to communicate motives and values for the Danish engagement in the Middle East and to present the Arabian Initiative as a part of the coherent Danish foreign policy for the Middle East, that just as much emphasise security and socio-economical aspects".

Well, let's see what comes of this.