An Honorary Consul in Denmark, usually a Danish citizen, has been appointed by a foreign country, and approved by the Danish gouvernment to represent the interests of the foreign country such as business, cultural and the people to people contacts in a certain geographical area.
In cities or areas that may be distant from full-time diplomatic missions, a foreign government which feels that some form of representation is nevertheless desirable may appoint a person as honorary consul general or honorary consul. This persons functions require approval by the host country (Denmark) government (exequatur ). The legal background for the actitivities of consuls is stipulated in the UN Vienna Convention for consular services of 1963 – ratified in 1967. A consul may often combine the job as consul with his or her own (often commercial) private activities.
The title consul is used for the official representative of a government of one state in the territory of another, acting to assist and protect the citizens of the country which the consul is representing, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries. A consul is distinguished from an ambassador, the latter being the official diplomatic representative towards the country in which the ambassador is stationed.
There is only one ambassador per country representing his/her country, and his/ her duties revolve around diplomatic relations between the two countries; however, there may be several consuls, for example, one in each of several main cities, providing assistance with bureaucratic issues to both the citizens of the consul’s own country travelling or living abroad and to the citizens of the country the consul resides in who wish to travel to or trade with the consul’s country.