– ‘survival’ issues to be addressed through partnership

CONTINUING the long-standing accreditation process for plenipotentiary representatives, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on Friday accepted letters of credence from Slovenia representative, Dr. Bozo Cerar.

LaRocque, at a simple ceremony at the CARICOM Headquarters, Turkeyen, noted that the accreditation is a step towards the construction of a multifaceted partnership between CARICOM and Slovenia, which includes strategic political exchanges and tangible developments and technical cooperation.
According to him, this type of partnership will result in people of member states and Slovenia enjoying the benefits of growing relations.

SURVIVAL ISSUES
The Secretary-General dubbed the issues that can be addressed through the partnership as survival issues, which present challenges for both Slovenia and CARICOM countries.
He said, “As regards political dialogue, I believe there are three key issues on which CARICOM and Slovenia, as small states, can successfully engage in order to find common ground and facilitate advances within the international community.
“These are the definition of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the ongoing global climate change negotiations and the continued fight against the scourge of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).”
As it relates to the latter, the Secretary-General noted Slovenia’s interest in health care, through its strong pharmaceutical industry, and called for support for the implementation of the UN Declaration on NCDs.
He said, “Ambassador, each of these issues is of paramount importance to CARICOM. In fact they are, for us, survival issues affecting how and if our children will inherit a quality of life that meets their aspirations.
“The negotiation processes for both climate change targets and the Post-2015 Development Agenda are as promising as they are daunting, requiring that countries with diverse agendas, priorities and levels of development agree on baselines that serve both the smallest and the largest of nations. It is a challenge our countries must overcome.”
LaRocque noted the continuing concerns of CARICOM member states as it relates to the Region’s capacity to recover from the “ongoing negative effect of the global financial and economic crisis” on small, highly indebted, vulnerable middle-income countries.
He noted that these countries are being adversely affected by the practice of many development partners of ‘graduating’ middle-income countries from access to concessionary financing without taking into account their vulnerabilities.
The Secretary-General said, “This is based primarily on the flawed assumption that GDP per capita is a sound measure of development.
“The EU (European Union) itself has followed this trend by introducing differentiation in its new development policy. This will result in a decrease in resources made available to middle-income countries at a time when such resources are most needed.”
LaRocque called on the newly accredited Ambassador to advocate on the Community’s behalf, in the Councils of the EU, with respect to how that policy is applied given the vulnerabilities of our member states.
“I am sure that your country’s understanding of the vulnerabilities of small states will lead it to,” he said.
The CARICOM Head referred to earlier partnerships with Slovenia and the move to pursue greater technical cooperation.
He said, “I had proposed then that areas such as education and training, people-to-people contact, cultural exchange, tourism, and trade might form the basis of concrete cooperation. I remain convinced that the scope exists for action to be pursued in these areas.”
On that note, he called for the new Ambassador to work with him to agree on a framework cooperation agreement, which provides a structured context within which both parties can pursue cooperation that would support the implementation of programmes that positively impact the lives of our people.

WILLING PARTNER
LaRocque added that CARICOM is a willing partner in advancing change for the benefit of the people of its member states.
“I am confident that Slovenia and CARICOM states, by working with like-minded countries, can move negotiations forward in the interest of the most vulnerable amongst us, the small highly indebted, middle-income countries and the poor countries of our planet,” he said.
LaRocque called for the Ambassador to establish close dialogue with the Community and its Secretariat to allow for both partners to work together to formulate strategies that will address problematic issues, particularly as the United Nations prepares to convene the 20th Conference of Parties to the Climate Change Convention in Peru at the end of this year.
He said, “The Caribbean Community welcomes the interest in deepening ties that your country has shown in appointing you as its second Ambassador to our Community.
“CARICOM’s expectations that relations with Slovenia will develop are, I believe, well entrusted to your capable hands, given your wide and impressive experience and knowledge.
“I can assure you that you will find in me and my staff, colleagues who are equally anxious to make the CARICOM-Slovenia relationship one that is both meaningful and mutually beneficial.”

NUMEROUS POSSIBILITIES
Dr. Cerar, in his comments, cited the “numerous possibilities” that engagements between CARICOM and Slovenia offer.
He said, “There are numerous possibilities for expansion and deepening of our relationship and cooperation at the bilateral level, within the framework of the EU and in the multilateral fora.
“In this regard Secretary General, with your help, I am determined to continue working towards advancement of these goals to the mutual benefit of Slovenia and the Caribbean countries.”
The new plenipotentiary representative stated that Slovenia attaches “great importance” to CARICOM and its member states.
“Based on partnership, mutual respect and solidarity we wish to strengthen and deepen our cooperation….these are the fundamentals on which we wish to further the cooperation with the Caribbean countries, through strengthening political dialogue and economic cooperation,” he said.
Dr. Cerar added that despite the geographical distance Slovenia and CARICOM member states countries have much in common and share the same values and basic foreign policy principles, issues of human security, human rights and the strengthening of international law and justice, as well as common positions on pressing global issues.
He said, “We are determined to continue and deepen bilateral cooperation in the areas where it has already proved its value, with special attention to sustainable development, economic integration, environmental issues and climate change.”
The Ambassador pledged support in contributing to the efforts of the international community with humanitarian relief when facing natural disasters in the Caribbean.
In noting other tangible support offered to the Community, Dr. Cerar said, “Slovenia took an active role in developing a Joint Caribbean EU Partnership Strategy. We were one of the principal proponents of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and CARIFORUM that was signed in 2008, the same year when Slovenia held the EU presidency.
“We consider this also as our contribution to the strengthening of the bi-regional strategic partnership and deepening its economic cooperation. It is our belief that free movement of goods goes hand in hand with free movement of people.”
According to him, it is for this reason that Slovenia advocates an EU visa liberalisation regime for the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries, conditional upon their fulfilment of criteria – countries that still do not have a visa-free regime.
“We expect the internal debate to be concluded soon,” he said.
The representative is the second in a year, after the first representative was unable to continue as the country’s liaison with CARICOM.
To date, several countries have appointed a plenipotentiary representative to the Caribbean Community. Among the member states who are accredited are Antigua, Barbados,The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Haiti’s first point person in advancing matters between the country and Haiti was accredited two weeks ago.
Guyana plenipotentiary representative is the Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Elisabeth Harper.

(By Vanessa Narine)