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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, has made it clear that the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) continues to vote on principle in multilateral fora and that Jamaica is still widely respected in the international community.
Taking note of recent comments made by Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Ms. Lisa Hanna; Sen. Johnson Smith said she was concerned about the lack of understanding of foreign affairs demonstrated by the spokesperson.
Senator Johnson Smith explained, “There is in fact a difference between states and governments. Maybe even more specifically, there is a difference between the maintenance of diplomatic relations, which exists between states, and the recognition of the legitimacy of any given political administration that takes office in a country.”
She continued, “Diplomatic relations would only be broken by an expressed decision to break diplomatic relations with a State with supporting actions. This is entirely different from support or lack of support for a particular electoral process, elected person or administration”.
Minister Johnson Smith indicated that the Government of Jamaica voted at the OAS in support of the principles of democracy, human rights, rule of law and non-intervention, which are all principles traditionally supported globally by Jamaica since our independence. She further stated that, “Ms. Hanna seems to conveniently recall only one of those principles, and regrettably fails to acknowledge the fundamental principles of human rights, rule of law, and democracy.”
She added that it is due to Jamaica’s consistent support for these principles and our practice of nuanced diplomacy that Jamaica has maintained its international respect and appreciation, NOT through the support of any particular regime in repayment for favours as Ms. Hanna and the PNP seems to be promoting.
Minister Johnson Smith also sought to correct Hanna’s assertion that Jamaica did not try to do more through CARICOM to promote dialogue regarding Venezuela. She advised that among efforts made, Jamaica agreed to be part of a CARICOM “Good Offices” process, but efforts made by CARICOM to pull the process together were unsuccessful. Minister Johnson Smith continued,“In the face of numerous calls by Jamaica and others for dialogue, and the other failed efforts made by groups including the Vatican and various friendly global political personalities, I am truly puzzled as to the exact expectations and role Ms. Hanna envisioned for Jamaica”.
The Minister also questioned the basis on which Ms. Hanna thought Jamaica’s actions would bring the country into disrepute, in a context where Jamaica was one of 19 countries to vote in favour of the resolution, including Canada and several CARICOM States, with 6 votes against – including Venezuela itself.
Minister Johnson Smith reiterated that Jamaica’s international comity, respect and visibility have reached record high levels over the past 2 years as reflected in the country’s invitations to participate in several high level fora, including the G7, G20 and BRICS Summits, the UN Secretary General’s invitation to Prime Minister Holness to co-Chair a massive Climate Change funding initiative, Jamaica’s service as the President of the Council of Ministers of the African Caribbean and Pacific group of countries and more, all in 2018, based on work done in 2016 and 2017.
Minister Johnson Smith said, “In all humility, I believe that if Ms. Hanna merely reads the news reports regarding Jamaica’s foreign affairs activity over the past two years, she would realize quite quickly that her concerns are totally unfounded.”
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