Bilateral discussions allowed Guyana to push its development agenda – Pres Ali

…meets Colombian, Brazilian Presidents
…discussions also held with OAS SG, Kosovo President on border case

The bilateral discussions that President Dr Irfaan Ali held with various developmental partners on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York over the past few days have all served the important function of allowing Guyana to promote its developmental agenda.

According to President Ali, his meetings with entities such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) were of critical importance when it comes to developmental projects.
He noted that those meetings allowed him and team to promote Guyana’s long-term developmental agenda, particularly as it relates to financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the IDB.

“We had a great opportunity to look at areas in which we can further collaborate to see where opportunities are, in terms of meeting our medium- and long-term development goals and objectives, reviewing our Islamic Development Bank portfolio and looking at other opportunities in building our relationship with other countries in the OIC.
“I was pleased also to have bilateral meetings with the President of the IDB, (Mauricio Claver-Carone). That meeting was a great meeting. We examined the existing portfolio. We spoke about priorities moving forward, and the bank playing a proactive role in reducing bureaucracy and ensuring that we provide the impetus for the various development projects we are engaged in.”

According to President Ali, coming out of the discussions, the IDB remains fully committed to providing funding for Guyana.
President Ali said he also held discussions with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, during which climate change and climate vulnerability as well as debt financing were discussed.
Discussions regarding the construction of a maternity and children hospital locally were also held with Austrian President Alexander Van Der Bellen. There were also discussions about a partnership between the respective Private Sectors from the two countries, as well as developmental financing.

Among the other Heads of State President Ali met on the sidelines were Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. In the case of President Marquez, President Ali said the two countries were able to make a commitment to strengthen bilateral ties.
At the productive meeting, the Presidents discussed matters relating to climate change and the environment, the strengthening of strategic cooperation in the area of defense and security, and COVID-19 vaccines. It was also decided that President Márquez would make an official visit to Guyana sometime in the near future.

Border controversy
Meanwhile, President Ali noted that his discussions with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani garnered Guyana Kosovo’s support in the border challenges with Venezuela, which are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

According to him, there was a mutual expression of support between the two countries for their respective sovereignty issues with their belligerent neighbours. Additionally, he said Ambassador and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, will follow up with Kosovo on areas of mutual interest.
“The President of Kosovo and I met also, and at that bilateral meeting, we had a great opportunity to reinforce our commitment to Kosovo and ensuring that issues of democracy, the freedom of people, and the respect for their sovereignty, we assured them of our support,” the President said, a reference to Kosovo’s own problems with Serbia, of which it was once part.
“Of course, the President would have also opened up discussions on other areas for bilateral cooperation. The Permanent Representative, Ambassador Rodrigues, will be following up on those areas for further collaboration. And, of course, they reassured us of their support in the Guyana/Venezuela controversy that is before the ICJ,” President Ali also said.
President Ali and several members of his Government also held a productive meeting with the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Mr Luis Almagro. A number of matters were highlighted by the Guyanese officials in the meeting held at the Office of the Permanent Mission to Guyana in New York.
Among them were the strengthening of democracy in Guyana through electoral reform, support for Guyana’s position on the border controversy with Venezuela, and Guyana’s position following the Venezuelan Government-Opposition accord made earlier this month.
On the settlement of Venezuela’s internal political differences, President Ali reaffirmed that while his Government welcomes efforts to bring about domestic harmony within Venezuela, agreements that defy international law and processes can form no basis for mediating such harmony.
He said Guyana does not promote the use of violence or threats to settle disputes, but would look towards the court and the rule of law.
President Ali also met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, where he discussed climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as using the opportunity, on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, to convey appreciation to the UN Secretary-General for his role in the Guyana-Venezuela border issue as per the Geneva Agreement. (G3)