PRESIDENT David Granger has pledged to strengthen Guyana’s relations with Belgium, Indonesia, Korea and Vietnam.The President accepted the Letters of Credence of the respective ambassadors of the above named countries, yesterday, at the Ministry of the Presidency and in the presence of Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell.

In presenting his credentials, H.E. Guy Sevrin, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, said his country is happy to strengthen its relations with Guyana.

In receiving the credentials of this non-resident ambassador, President Granger pointed out that the Cooperative Republic of Guyana had established relations with the Kingdom of Belgium on June 10, 1971.

However, he said “there remains great scope for the strengthening and deepening of these relations, particularly in the areas of economic and commercial cooperation, and the advancing of our common interests within international organisations.”

The President said Guyana, a small State, remains committed to regional integration; and he pointed out that one of the pillars of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is to coordinate foreign policy among member states. He also said that as a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, Guyana, with support from CARICOM and ACP, stands willing to deepen its engagement and cooperation with the European Union, and with the countries within that union.

Granger added that Guyana accords great importance to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. “We are completely committed to the obligation, as a member State of the United Nations, to settle any disputes which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security…by peaceful means; and to desist from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any other State.”

It was further pointed out that the Kingdom of Belgium has consistently sought juridical settlements to its disputes with other countries, particularly through the International Court of Justice. “The Kingdom of Belgium’s experience in pursuing the peaceful resolution of conflicts through such legal mechanisms would be of invaluable assistance to Guyana as it pursues the objective of a juridical settlement to a controversy arising out of threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Granger declared.

INDONESIA
At a separate meeting, President Granger received the credentials of H.E. Dr. Dominicus Supratikto, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia.

“My President is very confident that the relationship with Indonesia and Guyana will be further strengthened and broadened during your tenure in office,” Ambassador Supratikto told President Granger shortly after presenting his credentials.

“By presenting the letters of credence, I sincerely wish that the relations and cooperation between our two countries would be increased, based on mutual respect and friendly relation. In this regard, I strongly believe that the bilateral relations within our two countries will be continuously developed for benefit of our people,” he added.

President Granger, in response, recalled that Guyana and Indonesia established diplomatic relations on August 27, 1999, but the two countries had long prior engagements within the Non-Aligned Movement, which Guyana joined in 1970.

President Granger said that since the Bandung Conference in 1955, Indonesia has assumed an active role in regional and international organisations, and remains an influential voice within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – the group of 77 plus China and the United Nations.

“Despite the distance, we continue to share common-interest roles and aspirations. These include the need to reduce poverty, opposition to all forms of terrorism, and combating climate change. Guyana looks forward to working with the representatives of Indonesia to ensure that global solutions are found to the problems of developing nations, including problems that affect the security and survival of small states,” President Granger said.

KOREA
H.E. Pak Chung Yul, Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was the first to present his Letters of Credence to President Granger yesterday. He is a non-resident ambassador to Guyana.

During the simply ceremony, President Granger said Guyana and Korea have long enjoyed a cordial relationship. “Our two Republics also, as active members of the Non-Aligned Movement, had committed to the principles of mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, (and) mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity…”

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea established diplomatic relations on May 18, 1974.
VIETNAM

Shortly after Ambassador Pak Chung Yul presented his credentials, H.E. Nguyen Van Kien, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, presented his. In accrediting the non-resident Vietnamese Ambassador, President Granger said Guyana and Vietnam established diplomat relations in April, 1975 — some 30 years ago -– at a time when many small states, including Vietnam, were still fighting for their right to self-determination.

Like many other countries across the world, President Granger pointed out that Guyana and Vietnam are both vulnerable to the adverse effects of global warming and climate change. Hence, he said it is important to work together with all nations to find a solution to that problem.

By Svetlana Marshall