Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Guyana needs a voice to champion its cause in EU
– President Jagdeo
Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo, says that his recent trip to Greece was aimed at fostering an alliance that would provide a voice to champion the causes of developing countries such as Guyana, when the EU Council meets.
This disclosure was made by the President during a media briefing on his return from Greece.
He said that the nature of countries such as Greece would allow them to sympathise with countries such as Guyana, and as such they could act as a voice in Europe.
President Bharrat Jagdeo
“Greece tends to be more sympathetic to our arguments, because it’s a smaller country in the EU, and what we need in Caricom (Caribbean Community) are more champions of our cause in Councils of Europe”
Jagdeo said that, many times, when decisions are made by the Europeans that would affect ACP countries, “we are not at the table, and we need sympathetic countries to carry our perspective, so that it can be taken into consideration.”
According to Jagdeo, Greece has signalled its intention to acquiesce to his request.
He, however, noted that the road to fostering alliances will not end with Greece, given that the region would also need the support of more of the smaller countries in the EU to make a significant impact on the decision making process at the EU Councils.
According to Jagdeo, sometimes what is needed is a voice to the decision makers that would point out the adverse consequences of decisions on developing countries, such as in the case of the recently signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
Chairman of the Vision Guyana, Peter Ramsaroop, in an invited comment on the President’s pronouncements, said: “For the President to try to create dissent after a decision is made by the EU body, and in addition, to advocate for such an action without first consulting other Caricom Leaders, even after he signed the agreement, portrays a lack of common state protocols…Had the President not signed the EPA, then he would be allowed to act as a lone ranger; but since he did, he needs to act within the confines of the body.”
Jagdeo, while in Greece, met with Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and discussed potential areas of cooperation between the two countries in the economic and other sectors.
On January 15, President Jagdeo met Greece’s President, Karolos Papoulias, at the Presidential Hall in Athens, and the following day was presented with the city’s prestigious medal by the Mayor of Athens, Nikitas Kaklamanis, as a symbol of respect and friendship.
The simple ceremony occurred at the City Hall, where the two proceeded to discuss matters of mutual interest.
During a special dinner hosted by the Greek President, the Guyanese Leader was assured of the further strengthening of relations between Guyana and Greece.
Prior to visiting Greece, President Jagdeo travelled to Libya, where he met Leader, Muammar Qaddafi. He was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad, Ambassador to the Middle East and Greece, George Hallaq, and President of the Central Islamic Organisation, Fazeel Ferouz
During the discussions, it was agreed that Libya would send an investment team to Guyana to assess investment possibilities. It was also agreed that Libya would send a committee to open the Libyan People’s Bureau in Guyana, to strengthen relations between both countries and CARICOM.
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