On Monday 12 July 2021, the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, H.E. Mr. Manuel Salazar Palma, paid a courtesy call on Seychelles Foreign Minister, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.
Minister Radegonde firstly welcomed the Ambassador at the Seychelles Foreign Affairs Department and made note of the great relationship between Seychelles and Spain. “Seychelles is grateful to Spain for all the support provided throughout the years especially through the European Union – EUNAVFOR. As you assume your position we would like to assure you of our full support, and we certainly look forward to working with you for the mutual benefit of our two countries”, expressed Minister Radegonde.
The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the major issues with regard to the bilateral and multilateral collaborations in areas such as Maritime Security which is of primordial importance to Seychelles. EUNAVFOR operation ‘Atalanta’ which Spain is part of has been instrumental in abating the scourge of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean. Ambassador Palma further discussed the extension of the EUNAVFOR mandate, marking it as an opening to tackle other forms of illicit maritime activities that are endangering peace and stability in the region including drug trafficking, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and terrorism amongst others. “We are fighting an enemy that keeps on evolving,” stated Ambassador Palma.
Minister Radegonde welcomed this news and highlighted on the difficulties that the local authorities face in the aftermath of keeping foreign offenders in Seychelles’ prison and the negative impacts of having them mix with the local prisoners.
Additionally, Ambassador Palma informed of the recent reshuffle of Spain’s Cabinet of Minister. To that effect, a new Minister for Foreign Affairs has been appointed in office. Minister Radegonde expressed a note of congratulations to the new Minister through Ambassador Palma.
Present at the meeting were also the Principal Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, Director General for Bilateral Affairs, Ms. Lindy Ernesta and Second Secretary, Ms. Zénab Kanté.
In a ceremony at Statehouse today, Tuesday 13th July 2021, Ambassador Palma presented his credentials to President Ramkalawan, becoming the 15th Spanish Ambassador accredited to the Republic of Seychelles.
Seychelles and Spain established diplomatic relations in 1978.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles