UN General Assembly to project Guyana on international stage

– meeting on sidelines to discuss collaboration among ACP countries

– climate change, territorial integrity issues to be lobbied by Guyana

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, August 25, 2018

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly offers developing countries, such as Guyana, an equal platform to highlight the challenges they face in relation to the protection of territorial integrity, access to international markets and other relevant issues specific to the country’s needs.

This was on Friday expressed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge during an exclusive interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI). Minister Greenidge said it is important that small and developing states invoke the rule of law to protect them from larger nations in a world where states have become “lawless.”

“In addition, there are discussions which address the problems of agricultural states, the problems of markets, and more recently the problem of climate change and its impacts upon states such as ours which are in vulnerable areas…low-lying coastal states such as Guyana,” Minister Greenidge pointed out.

Forums, such as the UNGA, offer an unparalleled opportunity for Guyana to engage in discussions with Heads of Government across the globe without incurring travel costs.

“We organise a lot of bilaterals and also speak to multilateral agencies,” Minister Greenidge informed.

Reflecting on the 2017 UNGA, Minister Greenidge said Guyana’s delegation was able to engage the Commonwealth Secretary-General, representatives of Commonwealth and CARIFORUM countries.

In these meetings, discussions focused on the effectiveness of foreign policies, aid, common themes, climate change challenges and UN reform.

This year, the Foreign Minister said, a meeting is expected to be organised by one of the Pacific States to discuss the possible collaboration with the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States.

Multilateral agencies are also expected to host sessions on the margins of the General Assembly so that topical issues can be addressed in a meaningful way with a wide array of Heads of Government and responsible ministers.

“It is a useful forum for us and it helps also to project Guyana onto the world stage…the knowledge we show of various issues, how well we are handling cases on our own behalf and how we participate in representing groups that we are a part of on topical issues, so it is a valuable forum,” the minister added.

The 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73) will open on September 18, 2018, in New York, United States of America. The Guyanese delegation is expected be led by Minister Greenidge.

By: Stacy Carmichael

Image: Jameel Mohamed