Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending April 7, 2017 ion V ^
Caribbean,
EU
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I ditor In ( hict Nigel Williams
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tidilor Godfrey Wray Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204
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Ctntorinl Advancing Guyana's diplomacy GUYANA'S diplomats recently met in Guyana for the Heads of Missions conference which was held under the theme: "Advancing Guyana's Diplomacy in the 21st Century." It is the first time all of the heads have congregated since the government took office just under tw o years ago. although at an orientation summit last year quite a number of them were present. The Heads of Missions conference, in addition to the objectives set out by the administration, would no doubt provide a platform for discussing the challenges of diplomacy and analysing the international arena and how current trends affect Guyana's security and future. It offers the heads of missions the opportunity to meet with the President, prime minister, foreign minister and other key stakeholders and officials. In his address at the opening of the conference. President David Granger said that a small State like Guyana, with limited resources, can ill-afford the contentious and confrontational amphitheatre of international relations and. therefore, it must pursue in its national interest, the safeguarding of its territorial integrity and promotion of trade and economic development through diplomacy. He noted too. that an important part of Guyana's diplomatic policy is to garner international and regional support to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. "The protection and projection of Guyana's sovereignty are essential elements of Guyana's diplomacy. Guyana lacks both the economic strength to sanction other states and the military capability to extend its power beyond its borders. A small state, notwithstanding its limitations, can seek to influence international relations in order to achieve its foreign policy objectives." the Head of State said. It is against this background that he charged the Heads of Missions to ensure that the pursuit of the national interest. which is inextricably linked to territorial integrity, is at the forefront of their work programme. President Granger's message to his ambassadors is clear that while they pursue economic and other opportunities for Guyana, our territorial sovereignty, which has been under threat, should remain the centre focus of their missions. This APNU+AFC Government, since coming into office. has taken serious steps to rebuild our foreign service, which at one time was the envy of the Caribbean. It is no secret our foreign service has gone through transformation
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- President Granger PRESIDENT David Granger said that international peace and economic integration are the utmost goals of the Caribbean and were the basis upon which the signing of the Treaty of Rome, occurred 60 years ago. The President was at the time speaking at the Photographic Exhibition and Cocktail Recephon in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, held at the Umana Yana in Georgetown on Wednesday evening. "The Caribbean today, like Europe 60 years ago. yearns for peace. The Caribbean seeks international peace, which is characterised by a dignified and secure life for om peoples. It seeks economic progress which is undergirded by special consideration to the needs and vulnerabilities of small-island developing and low-lying coastal states such as Guyana." the President was quoted as saying in a release by the Ministry of the Presidency. While congratulating the Emopean Union (EU) on its 60th Anniversary, the President. who serves as the current Chair of the Caribbean Community. said that it is these common goals that also saw the Caribbean, which is part of the African Caribbean and
Pacific Group of States (ACP). entering into mutually beneficial. preferential agreements with Europe. "The Caribbean, as party to successive Lome conventions and signatories to the Cotonou Agreement, looks forward to building on four decades of ACP-EU relations." the President said. The President said it was the Treaty of Rome that inaugurated a programme of economic integration, which allowed the Emopean Union to become a formidable economic community, accounting for 20 percent of global exports and with over 62 percent of its trade being intra-regional. "The Treaty of Rome was inspired by the philosophy of promoting peace through economic integration. Two World Wars in the first half of the twentieth century had taken a terrible toll on Europe. The scars of the Second World War were still visible in 1957. 12 years after it had ended. The Treaty of Rome was signed by six states, which were encouraged by the experience of the European Coal and Steel Community signed six years earlier. They were convinced that peace and economic progress could be seemed best through deeper economic integration." the
within recent years, and some have argued that it is nowhere near its original standing and esteem once held on the global stage. This transformation saw professional Foreign Service Officers (FSO) removed or sidelined and replaced by persons either not understanding their role or lack the capacity to perform under the previous administration. The Foreign Service Institute which was established to train and educate FSOs was closed. The closure of this institute was indicative of the fact that the nation had not been preparing FSOs to perform at their optimum, so as to deliver best services on the country's behalf. Thankfully. Minister of Foreign Affairs. Carl Greenidge has reopened the institute and appointed Ambassador. Ronald Austin as the director. The ministry has also recraited former diplomats serving as advisers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, minister and staff are the international face of Guyana. What this ministry does, be it representing government's policies abroad, adhering to international relations principles, or staffing of personnel, is of vital importance. In a complex world where changes are taking place very often, this ministry has to be able to grapple
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A toast! President Granger and European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Jernej Videtic toast to the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome President said. According to the release, the President said that Guyana and the EU enjoy excellent relations underpinned by mutual respect and cooperation for mutual benefit given their shared goals and pledged Guyana's commitment to strengthened cooperahon in the futme. Meanwhile. European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Jemej Videtic said that the founding members signed the Treaty having been inspired by a dream of a peaceful, common future of Emopean integration. He added that discussions on ACP-EU relations beyond 2020 are ongoing, and that these discussions must take place in a transparent manner, in an atmosphere of partnership and cooperation. "It is of course of major importance to Guyana and
other Caribbean countries that these discussions proceed. especially in view of the challenges facing the region and indeed the wider world." Ambassador Videhc said. The Ambassador pledged that the Emopean Union will continue to be a strong and constant partner of Guyana and the Caribbean Community. The Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (TEEC), also known as the Treaty of Rome, was signed on March 25,1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany and served as the cornerstone of the European Economic Community, later renamed the European Community in 1992, then absorbed by the European Union in 2009.
with the issues, look at the implications of /or benefits to Guyana's interest, and be able to respond or adjust with the appropriateness of time and nimblest of intellect. It is an established principle that Heads of Mission are supposed to have reporting relationship with the government of the day. Regardless of one's political preference or relationship with the Head of Government and State, every Head of Mission has a responsibility to represent the interest of this country. Where the present Service has an international economic trade mandate, in conjunction with Foreign Affairs, the country stands to benefit from staking out economic opportunities and acting to realise them. Foreign Service is not only about international relations, it is about every facet of the nation's activities. A professional foreign service can only be arrived at if those involved clearly understand what is the role and objective of the Service and it is from this position that the current conference is seen as very timely as it is necessary for our diplomatic representatives to understand their role and responsibilities as external actors, as well as the underpinnings of national development.
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