Yesterday, with sorrow, Latvia received the news that Per Carlsen, a former Danish Ambassador to Latvia, had passed away.
A seasoned diplomat (he had been the Danish Ambassador to Lithuania, Russia and Latvia), Per had also headed the Danish Institute of International Affairs (DUPI), in Copenhagen. After retiring from the diplomatic service, he continued his work to support Baltic projects.
Less known is his central role in the development of the Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion (BALTBAT) in the 1990s. As one of the earliest supporters of this project, he was appointed Chairman of the BALTBAT Steering Group. This initiative, together with other projects for Baltic military cooperation which he led, formed the basis for the support of many Western countries to the democratic development of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian armed forces.
This support took the form of both equipment and training, which opened the way to participation of Baltic units in Danish-led peacekeeping operations. This, in turn, led to membership of NATO and the security only the Alliance can provide. Without this support, the path to membership would have been much more complicated.
May this exceptional personality and true friend of the Baltic States rest in peace.
Jānis KažociņšNational Security Adviser to the President of Latvia
Secretary of the National Security Council
Brigadier (UK Army, Retired)