SURINAME-Ramdin holds talks with French counterpart.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – In a significant development for the diplomatic relations between Suriname and France, Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Minister, Albert Ramdin, has engaged in bilateral talks with his French counterpart Stéphane Séjourné in Paris.

A government statement issued here said that the two ministers discussed several ongoing projects, including the border demarcation between Suriname and the French overseas territory of French-Guiana and the completion of the jetty for the Albina-St. Laurent ferry between the two countries.

The statement said that discussions were also held on the ongoing political and socio-economic crisis in Haiti, where a transitional presidential council (CPT) has been sworn into office to end the crisis and hold fresh elections in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

At the conclusion of the productive meeting, an agreement was signed regarding territorial and regional cooperation between Suriname and France. Both sides have also committed to establishing a steering committee to further develop the areas of collaboration.

During his visit to Paris, Ramdin met with Anthony Ohemeng-Boamah, the UNESCO Assistant Director General for External Relations and Africa Priority.

During his visit to Paris, Ramdin had a detailed discussion with the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Africa Priority, Anthony Ohemeng-Boamah. The conversation focused on the relationship between Suriname and UNESCO, with specific attention to the report by UNESCO/ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) regarding conference facilities for the Suriname Parliament in the historic city center of Paramaribo.

Paramaribo is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Icomos has reacted negatively to the construction of the facilities. If the project goes ahead, Paramaribo risks being removed from the List.

Ramdin said the Icomos report was prepared after an advisory technical mission met with various stakeholders, and the Suriname government has yet to officially respond to the report.

Construction work on the new parliamentary facilities has been halted since the release of the Icomos report. The statement said the meeting between Ramdin and Ohemeng-Boamah will serve as the basis for a written response from the Suriname government.