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| St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas (left) and Switzerland's Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Mr. Walter Suter. (Photo/Erasmus Williams) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (MARCH 11TH 2004) – St. Kitts and Nevis and Switzerland pledged Wednesday to strengthen the already good relations that exist between the two countries.
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas in welcoming His Excellency Mr. Walter Suter, on behalf of the Government and People of St. Kitts and Nevis hoped that Swiss diplomat will use his stint of duty to develop the areas of cooperation in the regional and international community.
In response Mr. Suter said Switzerland was willing to assist St. Kitts and Nevis in education and training.
“Training in the difficulties that small states face in dealing with international negotiations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO),” said Ambassador Suter, who added that Geneva would support regional initiatives and those governments in defining their policies in economic and social development.
Prime Minister Douglas welcomed the offer of assistance in education and training – an area which he said his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration has placed emphasis.
“Not only in formal education at the primary and secondary level, but also in terms of acquiring new skills that would modernise the functioning of government,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who said his Administration would also like to get assistance from the Swiss authorities in training local officials in the financial services sector.
The Swiss diplomat presented his credentials on Wednesday morning to His Excellency the Governor General Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian.
Mr. Suter, who entered the Foreign Service in 1964, also paid a courtesy call Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.
