SVG forges new diplomatic ties

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has established formal diplomatic relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, signed instruments with Ambassador Ivan Barbalic of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 19th March, 2009.{{more}}

The establishment of relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina represents the beginning of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ renewed diplomatic outreach to the States of Eastern Europe. While Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not have historical ties with the Eastern European region, the country is seeking to build mutually beneficial partnerships to address Vincentian interests in the context of an ever-evolving global environment. This is part and parcel of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ wider diplomatic activism. In addition to the relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has signed similar instruments in recent months with the Union of Comoros, the Republic of Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Monaco, the Republic of Senegal, and the United Arab Emirates.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a relatively small, largely landlocked state. The country’s economy has rebounded well from the war of the late 1990s, and is a major exporter of metals, minerals and manufactured goods. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also increasingly dependent on tourism, and has one of the world’s highest rates of growth in the tourism industry.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines sees not only opportunities to cooperate with Monaco to share developmental and technical expertise, but also to forge partnerships and positions based on the two States’ mutual interests in tourism and other service sectors.

Interestingly, the meeting of the two Ambassadors also allowed Ambassador Gonsalves to pass the mantle of “Youngest UN Ambassador” to his Bosnian counterpart. Ambassador Barbalic, who came to the UN in January of this year, is almost three years younger than Ambassador Gonsalves.