Seychelles consuls have urged that the rules of engagement used to deal with pirates be relooked to ensure buccaneers caught after spending a lot of resources are not simply released “for insufficient evidence”.

Mr Loustau-Lalanne addressing delegates at the close of the conference

They made their call last week during their three-day conference held at the Ephelia Resort where the principal secretary for Foreign Affairs Maurice Loustau-Lalanne promised communication will be stepped up.

He told them the optic fibre cable link to the rest of the world – that many wanted to help look for sponsors for – is already being made and should reach here in May, being ready for use in September 2012.

Mr Loustau-Lalanne said the cable will further ease communication.

He said many of the consuls had donated to Seychelles in different ways, some going well beyond the call of duty, for which he thanked them.

Honorary consul Dr Otto Heier Boeschenstein – who is based in Switzerland – said things have changed a lot since the last meeting two years ago when the economy was the main issue being discussed.
He noted it is Europe that is now grappling with economic woes.

“I wish it ends up as well as it did in Seychelles,” he said.
He said the presentations made during the conference were very interesting, noting they covered renewable energy, piracy, investment and South to South cooperation.

Dr Boeschenstein said it was good that they talked about the ways to do their work, noting consuls need more information so as to be able to help attract investments especially after getting assurances that the investments would be safe in the country.

“We also need to be told why investors should come here and not put their money in another country,” he said.
When launching the conference, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam said Seychelles has become one of the most attractive investment locations in the region “coupled with a well-educated trilingual workforce and a clean unpolluted environment, as well as a sound economy and a stable political climate”.

He highlighted progress in the country’s foreign affairs, saying:
“The Seychelles diplomatic missions abroad have been extended to cover all five continents of North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe.

“In addition to the five embassies in operation in 2007, the Seychelles mission in London was reopened in 2009. Last month, a new embassy has been set up in Abu Dhabi, and -- in the not too distant future – Seychelles will set up a permanent mission at the African Union and in Cuba, depending of course on the availability of financial resources.

“The Ministry has also decided to reinforce the personnel of all its missions in order to enable them to play a result-oriented role in bilateral, regional and international affairs.

“While new consuls are being appointed to join the group of 86 already in post, new applications are still being processed. The number of people expressing interest in representing Seychelles increases every day.”

He said efforts have also been intensified to conclude visa agreements with many countries as possible.

“Recently such agreements were concluded with Vietnam and Turkey. We are also hopeful to be able to simplify significantly the process of visa application for the United States.”