Diplomacy is changing – Straker

Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Straker, in announcing a number of changes to our diplomatic missions abroad, has stressed that the global, economic, social and cultural changes brought about by the 21st century have altered the form and shape of modern diplomacy.

“Diplomacy is no longer war and peace, diplomacy is now education, science and technology, health, education and law among others”, said Straker on Monday {{more}} while delivering an address at the National Consultation for Heads of Missions and Consulates,a forum where matters of foreign policy are being discussed.

Straker, speaking at his Ministry’s conference room, stressed that the changes in diplomacy means that the roles and functions of diplomats must also change.

“Diplomats are no longer confined into representation, negotiation, communication and consular services, but are now engaged in reporting, trade promotion, country branding, services promotion, public relations, cultural exchanges and the like,” said Straker, who added that as we look around the country, we cannot help but notice the current policies regarding overseas development assistance and concessionary loans from donors and multilateral organizations.

The Foreign Affairs Minister stressed that in the area of trade and commerce, our exports lack critical mass to create economies of scale, while transport vulnerabilities, high energy costs, environment vulnerabilities and shocks resulting from climate change and insidious actions in metropolises are daily occurrences that our government must seek to mitigate.

“These are all factors which hinder sustainable development. Our key strategy must be the use of soft power diplomacy in order to meet our challenges. It therefore means that our diplomats are our eyes, ears and voices in the international community and they must become relevant actors with great technical awareness,” stressed Straker.

He noted that SVG has to get past the traditional outlook of establishing diplomatic relations and cooperation with countries.

“We must now shape our foreign policy in a proactive way to ensure that it is effective in today’s changing world. We must ensure that our national development needs are achieved through diplomacy. This task is indeed challenging.”

Speaking directly to the nation’s diplomats gathered at the forum, Straker said, “…our diplomats must be negotiators and experts in trade, WTO agreements, energy, health, climate change, security, while at the same time focussing on networking, country promotion and branding, investment among others.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister asked diplomats, as they take up their new posts in some instances, to not just attend seminars and meetings and meet people, but to ask themselves what they have done to better the country.

He said that in his opinion, the diplomats that do nothing send the longest reports.

“Think hard and work hard,” stressed Straker, who also encouraged the overseas personnel to voice their concerns with the Ministry of Finance, “in order to maintain your dignity abroad.”(LC)