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Guyana to appoint an ambassador to Palestine
By Abena Rockcliffe
Yesterday President Donald Ramotar announced that the appointment of an Ambassador to Palestine is imminent.
The Head of State made that declaration immediately after meeting with the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki at the Office of the President.
The visiting envoy told the media that the main purpose of his visit was to extend a personal thank you to President Ramotar for Guyana’s continued and steadfast support to Palestine.
President Ramotar hands over a painting of Guyanese scenery to Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, Riyad al-Maliki
He said that Palestine saw the “need” to show its appreciation to Guyana for its strong, committed position to support justice around the world, “and more importantly, in Palestine.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister expressed that he was honoured to receive “important” ideas and views from President Ramotar. He said that those ideas that came up while he was paying attention to the “wisdom and knowledge” of the Guyanese leader, are soon to be followed up.
According to the Palestinian envoy, his president, Mahmoud Abbas, asked him to extend an invitation to President Ramotar for further talks in Palestine.
Mr. Ramotar told the media that an appointment for an Ambassador to Palestine is in the making. Minister Riyad al-Maliki concurred and added that his country will be appointing an Ambassador to Guyana as well.
Ramotar presented the Foreign Affairs Minister with a painting of a scene from “My (Guyana’s) hinterland.”
He also yesterday reiterated Guyana’s continued support to Palestine and said he looks forward to forging a relationship with the country which Guyana deems a free, independent and sovereign state.
The president emphasized that he believes Palestinians should be allowed to live in their own country.
Guyana, in early 2011, made the decision to acknowledge Palestine as a state. At that time, the country joined Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Ecuador in recognizing Palestine as an independent state within the borders that existed before Israel captured the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Middle East war.
It was noted that that move came in keeping with Guyana’s longstanding and unwavering solidarity with, and commitment to, the just and legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine for the exercise of their right to self-determination and to achieve a homeland of their own, independent, free, prosperous and at peace.
In February of this year, Guyana became the first member of Caricom to establish diplomatic relations with the Palestinian National Authority.
Guyana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, George Talbot, and his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Manssur, signed a document establishing bilateral relations. In the text, both countries committed to fully complying with the UN Charter and international law, and promoting peace and security as well as respect for the countries’ sovereignty and independence.
Last year, Israel had on November 14 launched a military offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza through a series of air strikes, resulting in numerous injuries and more than 160 Palestinians killed, many of whom were women and children. There were some casualties in Israel.
The Guyana government had on November 19 issued a statement condemning the act and calling for an immediate ceasefire which did in fact, come into effect on November 21 following negotiations with Israel and Hamas involving other states including the United States and Egypt.
Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett told the National Assembly on November 23 that the Guyana Government welcomed the news of the ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, noting that negotiation is the only viable means to bringing a mutually satisfying end to the conflict between the two countries.
Diplomatic talks have restarted between the Israelis and Palestinians and are currently ongoing.
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