Cabinet has approved the appointment of several senior diplomats

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Czech Republic

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Her Excellency Sandra Lang Linkensederova as Non-Resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Designate of the Czech Republic to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. She will replace H.E. Jiri Havlik, whose term of service has ended.

After joining the Czech Diplomatic Service in 2002, Ambassador Designate Linkensederova has held positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic as well as Missions abroad. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese and has a working knowledge of Italian.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and the Czech Republic were established on January 1, 1993.

Collaboration between the two countries takes place primarily at the multilateral level through bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union. In an effort to enhance relations between the two countries, Guyana and the Czech Republic signed cooperation agreements on cultural, scientific and trade.

Ambassador Designate Linkensederova is resident in Brazil.

Denmark

His Excellency Nicolai Prytz, Non-Resident Ambassador Designate of the Kingdom of Demark to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana will replace H.E. Mr. Kim Højlund Christensen, whose term of service has concluded. H.E. Prytz currently serves as Directo r- General at the Danish Consulate General in Shanghai, China. He previously held positions at Danish Missions in Brazil and Argentina.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and Denmark were established on November 16, 1979. Guyana has benefited from bilateral assistance in the areas of agriculture, civil aviation and education. The two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which five manatees were donated to the Odense Zoo of Denmark.

H.E. Prytz will reside in Brazil.

Republic of Ghana

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Her Excellency Abena Poku Adompim Busia, High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Designate of the Republic of Ghana to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

H.E Ms Busia is the daughter of a former President of Ghana and is a distinguished author and renown academic.

Currently, H.E. Busia is Chair of the Women and Gender Studies Department and an associate professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She is also Board C hair of the African Women’s Development Fund-USA.

Guyana and Ghana formally established diplomatic relations on May 14, 1979. Since then, the two countries were active members of the African Liberation Movement during the 1970’s. Today, Guyana continues to celebrate Ghana Day, a practice re-established since 2011 having initially been celebrated on March 6, 1957, on the occasion of Ghana’s attainment of independence.

Turkey

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Her Excellency Hayriye Nurdan Erpulat Altuntas as Non-Resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Designate of the Republic of Turkey to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. She has held a long career in th e Turkish Foreign Service and has served at several Turkish Missions including Moscow, Sydney and Tokyo among others.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and Turkey were established on May 2, 1973.

In addition to direct bilateral cooperation, the two countries often collaborate at the multilateral level through the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In 2017, Guyana and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment for Political Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Co -operative Republic of Guyana. The MOU was signed in the margins of the Turkey- CELAC Quartet meeting, held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Additionally, during the first Turkey-CARICOM Cooperation Consultation Mechanism held in 2014, Guyana and Turkey signed the Abolition of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports along with an Air Services Agreement.

Ambassador Designate Erpulat Altuntas is resident in Caracas, Venezuela.

Romania

His Excellency Stefan Mera, Non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Designate of Romania to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana will succeed H.E. Marinel Ioana. He joined the Romanian Foreign Service in 1992 after serving as a translator and literature teacher. H.E. Mera is currently accredited Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Brazil. He previously served as Minister Counsellor to the EU Workin g Group for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and Romania were established on June 20, 1973. Since then, Guyana has benefitted from technical assistance stemming from a 1975 Agreement on Cultural and Scientific and Technical Cooperation. Additionally, many Guyanese benefitted from medical and mechanical engineering scholarships extended by the Government of Romania.

More recently, a Romanian delegation led by Ambassador -At-Large for the United Nations Security Council, Her Excellency Daniela Gitman , met with Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Carl B. Greenidge, during which they discussed m utual areas of interest including the possibility of establishing a Romanian Honorary Consul in Guyana.

H.E. Mera will be resident in Brazil.

Slovenia

Cabinet has approved the appointment of His Excellency Stanislav Vidovič as Non -resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Designate of the Republic of Slovenia to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

H.E. Vidovič has had an extensive career within the Slovenian Foreign Service. He currently serves as Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States of America. Prior to that H.E. Vidovič served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and Slovenia were established on April 20, 2007.

Collaboration between the two countries occurs at the multilateral level, often through the United Nations. While relations between the two countries remain cordial, the appointment of H.E. Vidovič is expected to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation.

H.E. Vidovič will be resident in Washington, D.C., United States of America.

Zambia

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Her Excellency Alfreda Chielkwa Kansembe Mwamba as High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Designate of the Republic of Zambia to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

In 2017, H.E. Mwamba was appointed Ambassador to Brazil. She previously held a number of positions in the Zambian Government, such as Deputy Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister within the Ministry of Home Affairs, among others.

Guyana and Zambia established diplomatic relations on February 11, 1971.

The two countries were engaged in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). While both countries also are  active within the African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the Commonwealth, they are currently seeking to further develop bilateral relations.