Guyana’s Foreign Minister Receives National Award From Argentina

GEORGETOWN, Guyana CMC – Argentina has bestowed the Grand Cross of the Order of the General Liberator of San Martin on Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who ended a two-day visit to the country over the last weekend.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said that Argentina’s Foreign Minister Hector Timmerman in presenting the award, “paid tribute to the consistent friendship which Minister Rodrigues-Birkett and the Government of Guyana have demonstrated to the Government and people of Argentina”.

It said that Timmerman expressed confidence that the two governments were guided by similar political and democratic ideals and convictions.

During her visit, Mrs. Rodrigues-Birkett discussed areas of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Argentine South/South Cooperation Program and later signed a bilateral agreement for the “Free Exercise of Remunerated Activities by Dependent Relatives of Diplomatic, Consular, Administrative and Technical Staff of their Diplomatic Missions, Consular Offices and International Organizations”.

The statement said that the two officials also “took the opportunity to exchange views on the activities of several regional organizations of which their countries are members, in particular the Caribbean Community, the Union of South American Nations and the Organization of American States.

Rodrigues-Birkett also met with the Ministers of Defence and Security and officials from the Ministries of Health, Social Development, Agriculture, Tourism and Industry.

At these Meetings there was an exchange of information on the activities undertaken by both countries within the different sectors and discussions focused on potential opportunities for cooperation.

“It was agreed that the two countries will work towards the early conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in agriculture that would include cattle rearing.”

The statement said that a mission from Argentina would pay a visit to Guyana later this month with a view to exploring cooperation in the tourism sector.

Other areas identified for cooperation between the two countries include  post graduate training for Doctors in Specialized areas, Spanish Language training and military training at Argentine Defence Institutions.

The statement said cooperation between Guyana and Argentina has intensified since the re-establishment of an Embassy in Guyana two years ago.

Photo courtesy GINA.