Dr. Ferdinand off the mark in knocking SVG Iran relations

29.AUG.08

Editor: In The Vincentian of August 22, 2008, Dr. Jules Ferdinand went wild off the mark in his criticism of the ULP Government’s policy of establishing diplomatic relations with Iran. Dr. Ferdinand thinks that it is a decision against God’s wishes since the current Iranian President called for the destruction of Israel and Israel is God’s chosen nation.{{more}} I have never read such illogical reasoning in all my life.

Presumably, the destruction of the Palestinian people by Israel and Israel’s refusal to abide by United Nations resolutions for the establishment of a Palestinian state are sanctioned by Dr. Ferdinand’s God. The simple fact is that modern-day Israel is no more God’s chosen nation than the USA, South Africa or St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We are all God’s people. Both the Palestinians and the Israelis deserve to be within safe and internationally-recognised borders. They will then live in peace.

The United Nations has a membership of 200 nation-states. Over 90% of them have diplomatic relations with Iran. Indeed, every member-state of the European Union has diplomatic relations with Iran and Israel. So, too, does St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A few weeks ago I read in the newspapers that an Israeli Ambassador visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines and held discussions with officials of the government here.

The position of the ULP government to engage diplomatically every single country at the UN makes good sense. St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not have diplomatic relations with all of them but the numbers are expanding. It is self-evident that it is to our benefit economically and politically.

Diplomatic relations with a country does not imply agreement with them necessarily. Clearly, no government in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will support the destruction of Israel. Indeed, the ULP government, as did the NDP government before it, has at the United Nations consistently supported Israel’s right to exist within safe and secure borders.

Dr. Jules Ferdinand is a good man, but he fell way short of a length on this one. By the way, ask the local Bahai community about the strong support given by the ULP government at the UN on the matter of their freedom of religion issue in Iran.

Jonathan Anderson