President hails ‘fruitful’ meeting

President James Michel has described as ‘fruitful and very well organised’ this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

Sustainable development, climate change, the blue economy, ways to further address world poverty, post 2015 United Nations programme, the Commonwealth Charter, Seychelles cooperation with Sri Lanka were among the most pertinent issues discussed at this year’s meeting.

President Michel, who led Seychelles delegation at the meeting, was speaking to the local media on Saturday afternoon soon after taking part in a bilateral meeting with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and taking part in other discussions with Commonwealth leaders during retreat sessions. 

“It was a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which has been very interesting and I would like to congratulate the President, government and the people of Sri Lanka for the warm and friendly welcome as well as their hospitality. The Sri Lankan people made the most of the opportunity to  show the visitors the best of their culture and their hospitality,” said the President.

Apart from being an opportunity for world leaders and their representatives to review decisions taken previously, it was also an occasion to highlight current world issues especially those with direct impacts on Commonwealth member states, most of which are small island states. 

“It was an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues, and how all that is taking place globally are impacting on the Commonwealth family. And like all families, we discussed our future and at the same time explore solutions which can be proposed to the international community,” added the President.

Mr Michel said his intervention during the retreat sessions was based mainly on the issue of sustainable development and the impact of climate change on small island states in particular and the word.

The most important aspect of his intervention concerned the blue economy where the President stressed the need for small islands and coastal states to come together to develop programmes and structures so that countries can take ownership of their blue economy resources.

“This has been welcomed and accepted with much enthusiasm by other small states and coastal countries as well as the international community as a whole and it is expected to feature prominently in the final CHOGM document. The world is becoming more conscious of the need to protect the sustainability of our oceans,” said the President.

With regard to the programmes that the UN is expected to put in place after the Millennium Development Goals come to term in 2015, Mr Michel said the Commonwealth is putting in place a team of experts to work on and address specific issues related to sustainable development in the years after 2015.

As to Seychelles cooperation with Sri Lanka, President Michel said it was an opportunity for him and President Rajapaksa to review the state of cooperation between the two countries since the two leaders visited each other’s country recently.

“A lot of issues were discussed and planned which are today bearing fruit and it was an ideal opportunity to review the state of our cooperation and collaboration and at the same time explore other areas of cooperation,” said President Michel.

The fact that SriLankan Airline made its inaugural flight to Seychelles at the same time is an important  proof of the fruitful cooperation between Sri Lanka and Seychelles. 

Mr Rajapaksa also confirmed that the Ceylon Bank will soon be opening a branch in Seychelles and that the Sri Lankan government is working towards opening a high commission in Seychelles soon. 
“This will help further develop cooperation, partnership and friendship between our two countries,” said President Michel.

Other areas of existing cooperation between the two countries -- in fields like the economy, education, training, were also reviewed and discussions will continue through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President said.

“The discussions have been very fruitful and all the different dosiers will be followed up through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure a quick outcome and fruitful results,” added the President.

Text: Marie-Anne Lepathy

Forrás: www.nation.sc