[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2341-E2342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR ULRIK FEDERSPIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in 
commending Ambassador Ulrik Federspiel, who was sworn-in as Denmark's 
Ambassador to the United States in May of 2000, for his record of 
achievement in fostering transatlantic ties. Throughout his remarkable 
career, Ambassador Federspiel has worked tirelessly to strengthen the 
already close relationship between the United States and Denmark. 
Indeed, the Danes are fortunate to have such an illustrious 
representative in Washington, and the United States has no better 
friend and ally in the Diplomatic Corps here in Washington than 
Ambassador Federspiel.
  Mr. Federspiel began his career in the Danish Foreign Service in 
1971, and was immediately assigned to the prestigious European 
Community office within the Foreign Ministry.

[[Page E2342]]

 His outstanding contributions on E.C. matters earned him a tenure in 
London as First Secretary of Political Affairs from 1973 to 1977. 
During this time he worked in cooperation with several African states 
in the process of democratizing countries including Zimbabwe, Angola 
and Namibia. Mr. Federspiel was especially active in supporting the 
anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. As a result, he was personally 
invited to the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in 1993 and 
became a consultant to the modern integrated South African 
administration.
  In 1981, Ambassador Federspiel returned to Copenhagen to become 
Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign 
Affairs. A post he held until he arrived in Washington to serve as 
Deputy Chief of Mission at the Danish Embassy in 1984. He quickly 
developed a reputation in Washington as a quick study with an imposing 
intellect combined with a personable, friendly demeanor. Ambassador 
Federspiel came to understand that not only does Denmark have a 
critical role to play in European matters, but, for a small country, 
Denmark could ``punch above its weight'' on transatlantic economic and 
political issues.
  As State Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1991-93, Ulrik Federspiel 
worked to support independence for the Baltic states, who were emerging 
from the dark years of Soviet occupation. Denmark was the first country 
in the world to recognize the three former Soviet countries of Estonia, 
Latvia and Lithuania.
  From 1993 to 1997 Ambassador Federspiel's outstanding record brought 
the notice of the most senior members of the Danish government and was 
asked to serve as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister. At the EU 
summit in June 1993 under the Danish presidency, Mr. Federspiel drafted 
the portion of the Copenhagen Criteria that set standards for EU 
membership. Ambassador Federspiel became a staunch proponent of NATO 
expansion and has since taken a leading role in the process. Among his 
other accomplishments while in the Prime Minister's Office, he played 
an important role in the Danish decision to play an active part in 
Bosnia, having the largest contingency of ground troops there per 
capita, and the only country to have heavy armor, namely ten tanks.
  Mr. Speaker, since Ambassador Federspiel arrived in the United States 
last May, he has been actively engaged in solving trade disputes 
between the EU, Denmark and the United States. His diplomatic skills 
were evident while working with both the Congressional leadership and 
the Administration in resolving several high-profile trade disputes, 
including the carousel sanctions and the import ban on pork. Mutually 
beneficial trade has been expanded between the U.S. and Denmark through 
close cooperation between the former U.S. Ambassador in Copenhagen 
Richard N. Swett and Ulrik Federspiel.
  Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Federspiel has brought his dynamism and 
passion to so many political and humanitarian issues. Since completing 
his military service in the Royal Danish Navy in Greenland in 1970-71, 
Ulrik Federspiel has taken a keen interest in Greenland and its 
population. In 1984, when he became Deputy Chief of Mission to the 
Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C., the relationship between Greenland, 
the United States and Denmark became one of his priorities. The 
Ambassador has played an instrumental role in furthering the interests 
of the Home Rule Government and that of the Danish realm and has worked 
in close cooperation with the U.S. government, especially Thule Air 
Base. The island and the base are strategic elements of defense and 
security preparedness of both the United States and Europe.
  Ambassador Federspiel is also an accomplished academic. He graduated 
from the University of Aarhus in political science in 1970, and 
completed a year of post-graduate studies at the University of 
Pennsylvania, earning an MA in 1985-86. He has been a visiting lecturer 
at George Washington University and frequently lectured on 
international relations at the University of Copenhagen as well as 
served as a governing board of the university.
  His interest in supporting academic excellence continues today. He is 
an Honorary Trustee of the Crown Prince Frederick Fund for Harvard 
University that supports two scholarships annually for exemplary Danish 
university students. Ambassador Federspiel currently sits on the 
advisory board member of Humanity in Action (HIA), a unique educational 
program between Denmark, the United States, the Netherlands and 
Germany. HIA offers a number of competent university students an 
intensive study of human rights and democratic values each year. This 
summer the program was expanded to include internships on Capitol Hill.
  Ambassador Federspiel's commitment to working for others is 
undoubtedly a result of his and his family's experiences growing up in 
war torn Europe. During the Nazi occupation of Denmark, Ambassador 
Federspiel's father, Per Federspiel, was imprisoned for a year due to 
his involvement in the rescue of the jews in October 1943. Needless to 
say, Ambassador Federspiel has proven himself to be a strong and 
consistent supporter of the State of Israel.
  After the horrible events of September 11th, Ambassador Federspiel 
and the Danish people were among the first to support the American 
people and the cause of freedom. As a NATO member, Denmark is one of 
the strongest supporters of the United States in its campaign against 
terrorism. And a recent poll of the Danish population showed the Danish 
people as the America's strongest supporters in Europe in our war on 
terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor and privilege for me to have the 
opportunity to thank Ambassador Federspiel for his uncompromising 
dedication to furthering the friendship between our two great 
countries.

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