Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Queen Rania appointed honorary
Hans Christian Andersen ambassador
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania was appointed as honorary Hans Christian
Andersen ambassador to Jordan on Monday in recognition of her work in promoting
literacy, quality education and cross-cultural dialogue in the Kingdom and
around the world.
Hans Christian Andersen is one of the world's greatest storytellers, with
familiar childhood fairytales such as The Brave Tin Soldier, The Princess and
the Pea, and The Ugly Duckling amongst many others. His stories were written for
both children and adults and build on universal themes of interest in all
cultures around the world.
In his opening remarks at the award ceremony, Danish Ambassador to Jordan Ole
Egberg Mikkelsen spoke about Andersen's legacy in fostering international
cultural dialogue and the value and importance of this legacy in “today's
globalised, yet fragmented world.” He noted that Hans Christian Andersen
ambassadors “embody the true spirit of international cultural dialogue.” Grethe
Rostboell, former Danish minister of culture and chair of the Danish Centre for
Culture and Development (DCCD), presented the ambassadorial diploma and pin to
Queen Rania at the Zaha Cultural Park yesterday.
She highlighted the Queen's role as “an engaged modern role model for women” and
her “concrete work in improving the conditions for children in reading and
education.”
Hans Christian Andersen abc Foundation Managing Director Mette Holst briefed the
audience on the foundation, which was established in memory of the renowned
author, with the aim of spreading Andersen's inspiring message and to help give
children and young people worldwide the chance to learn, read and write.
Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Khalid Touqan, Minister of Environment Khalid Irani, Swedish Ambassador Sverre
Stub, Norwegian Ambassador Tommy Arwitz, as well as other personalities in the
field also attended the ceremony.
The appointment of the Queen coincides with the bicentennial celebration of the
birth of Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), which is being used to launch a
renewed focus on literacy throughout the world, within a series of events and
activities conducted under the supervision of the Hans Christian Andersen 2005
Foundation.
Established by the Kingdom of Denmark, and represented by the Danish Ministry of
Culture, the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, the Municipality
of Odense, the County of Funen and the Bikuben Foundation, the foundation aims
to promote wider appreciation and awareness of the life and work of Andersen.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is patron of the activities of the Hans Christian
Andersen 2005 Foundation.
At the end of the event, Queen Rania read one of Andersen's fairytales, The
Emperor's New Clothes, to a group of kindergarten children who received gifts of
LEGO toys and Arabic editions of Andersen's fairytales. The Arabic translation
was published with sponsorship from the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation.
Furthermore, the DCCD donated several copies of Andersen's fairytales in Arabic
to a literacy/reading project in Jordan.
The DCCD promotes cultural cooperation between Denmark and developing countries
in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East.
In 2006, it will host The Images of the Middle East Cultural Festival in
Denmark, the largest of its kind internationally, under the patronage of Prince
Joachim of Denmark.