PRESS RELEASE 59/14 For Immediate Release April 9, 2014 ABSTAINING IS NOT A DISHOUNOURABLE ACTIVITY Former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Government of Saint Lucia, Dr. Vaughn Lewis, says that while Saint Lucias decision to abstain in a vote on the Russia/Ukraine issue may have drawn responses based on excitement; there are greater considerations that weigh heavily on a countrys position in such matters. Dr. Lewis, who was a guest on INSIDE GOVERNMENT on RSL 97, yesterday, Tuesday, says the world has changed, interests have changed and so each country has a responsibility to project and protect its own interest. Dr. Lewis explained that all Governments must consider whether there is a national interest in going in to one camp or another, on the basis of ideological sentiment. Dr. Lewis said, There is almost a negative connotation to abstention but abstention is not a dishonorable activity. It simply says that the interests of those who are in contention do not operate on me so intensely that I am forced to make a decision. There are two aspects of International Relations. There are beliefs and there are the realities of interaction that has to do with the assistance we want from institutions and countries. Government has to decide whether it is worth the effort sometimes, going into such convoluted and involved discussions to find our way between two parties, when the essence of their discussion does not have an immediate or even long term impact on us. We also have to make a judgment as to whether abstention on a particular issue will affect our future relations with those involved. When matters like these arise, consideration is given to our relationship with our allies and the impact of their decisions over time. Contrary to the popular view that the positions of small countries do not make a difference in the wider world, Dr. Lewis says the increasing diversity of the world places equal emphasis on the vote of small states. Dr Lewis shared those views on INSIDE GOVERNMENT. The programme examined the role of the Foreign Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the impact of international developments on Saint Lucia, the region and the world. The programme will be replayed on RSL 97.3/97.7 on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 5:00pm. END.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 13:45:42 +0000
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