Dutch ambassador to Estonia leaves
07/06/2006
By
Juris Lavrikovs
The Dutch ambassador to Estonia is leaving his post because of homophobia, after only a year in office. His husband, a black Cuban man, is being bullied and threatened in the streets of the capital Tallin.
The problems started a year ago when Hans Glaubitz was appointed. An Estonian weekly called the appointment of a homosexual ambassador with a black partner a Dutch provocation.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs had foreseen that a problem might occur, but had also hoped that Estonia, as an EU member state, would adopt a more tolerant attitude. Glaubitz will now take up a two-year post at the Montreal consulate general.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bot will take the matter up with his Estonian counterpart. The Dutch government has emphasised that the Estonian government is not to blame.
The problems started a year ago when Hans Glaubitz was appointed. An Estonian weekly called the appointment of a homosexual ambassador with a black partner a Dutch provocation.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs had foreseen that a problem might occur, but had also hoped that Estonia, as an EU member state, would adopt a more tolerant attitude. Glaubitz will now take up a two-year post at the Montreal consulate general.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bot will take the matter up with his Estonian counterpart. The Dutch government has emphasised that the Estonian government is not to blame.
