After signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Caricom in 2008, Austria has fortified its diplomatic ties with a new emissary.
According to a Caricom press release, the new plenipotentiary, Gerhard Mayer presented his letters of introduction to Caricom last week. Receiving the credentials on Caricom’s behalf was Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan, Deputy Secretary General.
Soeknandan said, “Caricom was looking forward to Austria’s favourable recognition of the special circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as the international community negotiated the Post-2015 Development Agenda.” It may at this time be appropriate, Soeknandan said to revisit the MOU to better align it with Caricom’s Strategic plan 2015-2019.
The region is also hopeful that the Central European country will be supportive of advocating for Caricom to the European Union and G20 relating to its new policy of development financing regarding middle income countries under which the region is categorised. The new criterion which requires funding to be based solely on a calculation of each country’s per capita income will diminish available resources to these countries at a time it is most needed, the release said.
Noteworthy, the release said was Austria’s Development Aid Agency (ADA)’s financial support during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
A further demonstration of the enhanced relations between the two, Soeknandan said, is a proposal by Austria to establish a joint office in Vienna.
During the ceremony, Mayer said his country is supportive of the creation of the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency which it views as a significant initiative. In addition, it has also pledged support in the areas of energy, combating crime and corruption which he believes are issues of great importance to the region.
