PM: We can handle our own foreign relations

Democracy in St Vincent and the Grenadines is strong enough, and our leaders are experienced enough to handle our foreign relations.{{more}}

This was the broad scope of the response of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves to questions raised by the United States of America about this country’s establishment of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In an exclusive interview with SEARCHLIGHT, United States Ambassador Mary Ourisman revealed that in a recent meeting with Dr Gonsalves, she raised the issue of Iran with him, making it known in no uncertain terms that the US wasn’t pleased with the move.

At a press conference last Monday, September 15, Dr Gonsalves spoke about the meeting, and admitted that the US did express their displeasure.

He, however, noted that while the US is taking that stance, many countries, including several European giants, have relations, including huge trade relationships with the rogue nation.

So, is it good for the goose of large nations but not good for the gander of small developing states?

“The matter comes down simply at the end of it as I see it – do you trust the leadership of a small country to be sufficiently mature to handle relations and do you trust our democracy to be sufficiently resilient to handle relations?” he questioned.

Consequently, it was important to note, he said, that he and other leaders in his government and even the opposition are experienced enough to have relationships with any nation in the world and maintain this country’s values and beliefs and disagree with those same nations on various issues.

He noted, as he did in the last sitting of Parliament, that Iran’s position that Israel should be destroyed is a case in point.

This country strongly disagrees with Iran on that, and is willing to make that disagreement or any other disagreements for that matter clear, even as we pursue a closer relationship.

Just last year, a vote in the United Nations by Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves allowed a debate to take place on a motion raised by Canada dealing with Iran’s Human Rights.

Ambassador Ourisman had called on Dr Gonsalves to thank him on behalf of the US State department.

“Our democracy is sufficiently strong to handle any set of relations with any country, anywhere in the world, and to do so openly,”’ he said.

The Prime Minister said that he made it clear to the US Ambassador that he intended to pursue the closer relations with Iran and was willing to accept grants, including support for the international airport from that Middle Eastern oil giant.

He noted that while he appreciated all the assistance that the US gives in other areas, they are not giving money for the international airport project, even though they acknowledge the project’s importance in the scheme of this nation’s continued development.

He noted that when he visited Libya in August of 2001 to meet with Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, the US had similar objections. He said that just as he predicted back then, now that the US and Libya have settled their outstanding issues regarding the Lockerbie disaster, they are now pursuing closer relations.

Dr Gonsalves said that he believes that Iran, just as Libya back then, wants to come in from the cold of international relations. (KJ)