I am pleased to accept the Letters of Credence accrediting you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Chile to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. I congratulate you on your appointment and welcome you to Guyana, as you pointed out, from the Southernmost country to the northernmost country on the continent of South America.
I ask that you convey to His Excellency President Sebastián Piñera my best wishes for his personal well-being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Chile.
As you pointed out, Guyana and Chile have enjoyed excellent relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties on 22nd July 1971. Our relationship is founded on mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law and the maintenance of continental, regional and hemispheric peace and security.
Excellency, relations between Guyana and Chile have been strengthened by high-level exchanges. I was honoured, personally, to pay a State visit to Chile in October 2016 when I had the opportunity to address students at the “Andres Bello” Diplomatic Academy of Santiago. Other engagements and exchanges between our Heads of State occurred at:
– 19th Summit of the Rio Group Summit in Georgetown in March 2007;
– 23rd Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, in Paramaribo, Suriname in March 2012;
– the 1st Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Santiago, Chile in January 2013;
– 37th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community here in Georgetown, in July 2016;
– 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community held in Montego Bay, Jamaica in July this year, when I had the opportunity of meeting your President.
Excellency, Guyana expresses its appreciation for Chile’s support for strengthening its geochemical and geological mapping capacities, diplomatic training and language development.
“The Statement of Intent on Cooperation in Energy and Mining” also, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the “Andres Bello” Diplomatic Academy of Chile and the Foreign Service Institute of Guyana signed in Montego Bay on 6th July 2018 manifest our common commitment to deepening and widening cooperation for the mutual benefit, including in the areas of mining and oil and gas for both countries.
Chile’s commitment to assist in the field of disaster management is welcome in the context of the threat posed by climate change.
Excellency, as you’re aware, Guyana aims at becoming a ‘green’ state – one that will place greater emphasis on the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity, the promotion of the use of renewable energy and the adoption of practical measures to ensure climate adaptation. We welcome the initiatives geared at capacity-building and information-sharing with Chile on environmental practices aimed at combatting climate change and water and air pollution.
Excellency, Guyana regards your accreditation today as an excellent opportunity to build on the existing friendship between our two South American republics and to broaden our relations, both on the bilateral and regional levels, for the mutual benefit of our people.
I extend my best wishes for a successful tour of duty to you and assure you of the full support of my government as you discharge your duties as Ambassador.
Congratulations and welcome.
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