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GETTING THE SURINAME-NETHERLANDS RELATIONSHIP BACK ON TRACK
H.E. Rajendre Khargi, Ambassador of Suriname has a giant task at hand in reshaping the relationship between The Netherlands and its former colony Suriname.
AAfter more than ten years Suriname is again represented in The Netherlands at the highest diplomatic level. On 1 January 2021 H.E.
Rajendre Khargi assumed his work in The
Hague. He offered his credentials to H.M. The
King on 10 February 2021. “It is of course an honour and a privilege to represent my country at a time were much is to be done to restore the relationship between our two countries”. Reestablishing the ties was immediately welcomed by Dutch Prime
Minister Mark Rutte, after the election of
President Chandrikapersad Santokhi who took office in July 2020.
During the past ten months, the two countries engaged in activities on a broad range of policy issues on Finance, Defense, Agriculture, Justice and Health Care. Most notably the support from The Netherlands in providing vaccines, medical equipment and medical staff to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in Suriname. Ministers from both countries exchanged visits and the ministers of Foreign Affairs of Suriname and the Netherlands met on a regular basis. An invitation to president Santokhi by the Dutch Prime Minister was accepted and resulted in a working visit from 8-11 September 2021 to The Netherlands. It was broadly viewed as a very successful visit. The President met with H.M. The King and conducted productive meetings with the
“IT IS OF COURSE AN HONOUR AND A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY AT A TIME WERE MUCH IS TO BE DONE TO RESTORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES”
“I BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT CEMENTED A FRUITFUL FIRST NINE MONTHS IN WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO PUT SURINAME ON THE AGENDA”
Dutch Cabinet. He was presented the honorable opportunity to address members of The Dutch Parliament in the famous Ridderzaal. It was the first time a Head of State of Suriname was given this opportunity, which was highly appreciated. The visit also included visits to Rotterdam Port Authorities, the Royal Schiphol Group, Wageningen Research Centre and Shell. Various MoU’s were signed, for example with Amsterdam to explore support on Tourism, Water management and the Restoration of Paramaribo’s inner city. “I believe the President’s visit cemented a fruitful first nine months in which we were able to put Suriname on the agenda and demonstrate our commitment to get Suriname back on track and show that we are a country that abides by the Rule of Law and is committed to its international obligations”, says Ambassador Khargi.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi during a working lunch and signing at the Ministry of General Affairs. It is the first time Santokhi visits the Netherlands as president.
