Guyana and Palestine formally established diplomatic relations on Thursday, with the signing of a Communiqué by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador George Talbot and the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine Ambassador Riyad Mansour.
A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two countries committed to enhance their existing friendly and cooperative relations. Guyana is the first member of Caribbean Community (Caricom) to establish diplomatic ties with Palestine. In January 2011, Guyana was also the first Caricom country to recognise Palestine as a free, independent and sovereign State based on its 1967 borders. The release said that Guyana is a member of the United Nations Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people. The government has been a long standing supporter of the people of Palestine in their struggle to realise their rights to self-determination, an independent state and permanent homeland.
Last November, Guyana supported Palestine’s bid for Non-Member State Observer Status in the United Nations. Guyana was among UN Member States voted in favour of what was dubbed the de facto recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state and it used the occasion to reiterate its solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for recognition. The country was also a co-sponsor of the General Assembly resolution, which will upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s observer status at the United Nations to “non-member state” from “entity.” It was carried with the overwhelming support of 138 Member States that voted in its favour, while nine voted against and 41 abstained. Three members did not participate in the vote.
