The Alaska World Affairs Council Presents

Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen
Danish Ambassador to the United States
 
"Bilateral Affairs: Denmark and the US, Greenland and Alaska"

Thursday, 5th June, 2008 – Hilton Hotel
Doors open at 11:30 p.m. - Program begins at 12:00 p.m.
For Reservations
RSVP by Wednesday, 4th June to the Alaska World Affairs Council
by telephone 276-8038 or by email to AlaskaWorldAffairs.org .
Lunch Program $25 for Members - $30 for Non-Members - $10 for Coffee Only

Ambassador Petersen assumed his diplomatic post in October 2005, after leading Denmark’s Foreign Ministry from 1997 to 2005. He also served as head of the Department of Relations with Russia, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and as Denmark’s trade representative in the European Union trade policy committee from 1995 to 1997. He was instrumental in negotiations with the United States concerning Denmark’s contribution to the U.S. Missile Defense System. Ambassador Petersen has written numerous articles on foreign policy and lectures regularly at Danish Universities.

Curriculum Vitae for Friis Arne Petersen - Denmark's Ambassador to the United States

Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen presented his credentials to President Bush on October 3, 2005 as the Danish Ambassador to the United States.

Ambassador Petersen has had a distinguished and outstanding career in the Danish Foreign Service, serving on the staff of two Danish Foreign Ministers and holding various senior positions as Permanent Secretary of State and Undersecretary.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

2005 – Ambassador of Denmark to the U.S.

1997 – 2005 Head of the Foreign Ministry, Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Alternate for the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the European Union Council of Ministers

1995 – 1997 Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy
1994 – 1995 Director, Russia and Eastern Europe Department
1993 – 1994 Chief of Staff of Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen’s office
1986 – 1993 Chief of Staff of Foreign Minister Uffe Elleman Jensen’s office
1984 – 1986 Head of Section, Economic Affairs
1981 – 1984 1st Secretary, Royal Danish Embassy, Cairo
1979 – 1981 Head of Section, Political-Economic Affairs, Foreign Ministry
1979 – 1979 Head of Section, Economic Affairs, Foreign Ministry
1978 – 1979 Head of Section, The National Audit Office

June 1978 Master of Economics, University of Copenhagen
BOARDS

1997-2006 Denmark-America Foundation

1997-2005 Co-chairman of the Danish-Russian Intergovernmental Council on Economic Co-operation

1995-2000 Danish International Investment Funds: The Industrialisation Funds for Developing Countries and The Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe

Since 1996, he has been an external examiner at the University of Copenhagen and University of Aarhus (Political Science - International Relations).

Friis Arne Petersen lectures regularly at Danish universities and has also given lectures at several American Universities:
American University,
Boston University,
Columbia University,
Dana College,
Duke University,
East Stroudsburg University,
George Washington University,
Georgetown University,
High Point University,
KSG at Harvard University,
New York University,
St. Olaf College,
Texas A&M,
University of Chicago,
University of Maryland
University of Minnesota,
University of Virginia,
University of Washington,
Wake Forest University,
Washington & Lee University,
Whitman College,
Likewise he lectures in business associations and political organizations and has published a number of articles on foreign policy issues.

DECORATIONS

Commander of First Class of the Order of Dannebrog and Greenlandic Order of Merit (Gold) as well as Grand Crosses of Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Luxembourg, Romania, United Kingdom (GCMG), and Thailand.

Born 1952 in Skagen. Married to Birgitte Wilhelmsen. They have a son and two daughters.


For more information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, please visit http://www.ambwashington.um.dk/en .