The Changing Colours of Diplomacy

Foreign Policy

Whatever success Mauritius has achieved should be attributed to the enlightened vision of successive leaders and the assiduous commitment and seriousness of purpose demonstrated by those tasked with translating that vision into concrete plans of action…

Dr. Jaishankar’s Two-Day Visit to Mauritius. Pic – Diplomacy & Beyond Plus

By Vijay Makhan

National interest, at all times, and under whatever circumstances, is a fundamental precept of diplomacy for any nation while addressing issues of concern to it, be it at bilateral, sub-regional, regional or multilateral levels. In any particular circumstance, even when the odds appear to be heavily stacked against the country, it is but highly understandable that, for that country, its national interest takes precedence, and it will deploy all resources at its disposal to defend that interest. However, to be able to do that, one needs highly competent and accomplished individuals in the right place to deliver to the level of expectations.

Since independence, Mauritius has had to face many a complex and seemingly unsurmountable obstacle in its quest to carve a rightful place in the concert of nations. On the whole, one may say that it has done rather well, especially during its early years, when it was still considered as an “unviable” (as described by some foreign experts) mono-crop economy. Obviously, whatever success Mauritius has achieved should be attributed to the enlightened vision of successive leaders and the assiduous commitment and seriousness of purpose demonstrated by those tasked with translating that vision into concrete plans of action and delivering thereon.  

Timely and well-thought through actions on the foreign relations front, motivated and guided by a sense of pragmatism and realism ensured our country’s successful takeoff. The proceeds from the sugar exports, timely and assiduous implementation of the development provisions of the erstwhile Yaounde, Lome and Cotonou Conventions/Accord, the entrepreneurial dynamism of the local private sector and the generous bilateral developmental support of friends like India, China and Japan, among others, enabled the country to diversify and broaden its economic base.

It has to be underscored that the interaction of Mauritius on the international scene has always been dictated by its economic interests. It has, on occasion demanding, played its role in the concert of Nations. It has won plaudits for hosting a number of regional and international conferences of consequence, starting with the OCAM (1973) and OAU (1976) conferences. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam assumed the Chairmanship of the OAU during 1976-77. Also worthy of mention are the 1995 Lomé IV Review Conference which, under Mauritius’ leadership role, provided special attention to island member states; the Francophonie Summit in 1993; the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) International Meeting in January 2005 culminating in the 10-year comprehensive review of the Barbados Plan of Action for the sustainable development of SIDS;  the SADC Summit of 2004 with then Prime Minister Paul Bérenger assuming its Presidency at a particularly tense moment in the conflictual internal political situation in Zimbabwe.

This listing is by no means exhaustive. Mauritius has played host to a number of other meetings at various levels covering multiple sectors such as health, education, agriculture, trade, among others, under the aegis of the Commonwealth, OAU/AU, COMESA, SADC, ACP, AGOA, Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation to name but these.

Mauritius also stood up for its conviction on the international political front. With the advent of the MMM-PSM government in 1982, it officially recognised such liberation movements as the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the African National Congress, the Polisario Front, and those of Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and East Timor, among others. In 1992, Paul Bérenger, then Foreign Minister, successfully moved for the inclusion of an item on the OAU agenda to debate the thorny situation in the Horn of Africa, much to the surprise of the regional states, especially when Mauritius proposed itself as a neutral venue for a conciliatory dialogue among the Somali warring factions. In 1995, Ramdath Jaddoo, then Foreign Minister, and the undersigned, then Secretary for Foreign Affairs, were part of the OAU Team set up to mediate the Burundi crisis, under the leadership of late Alfred Nzo, first Foreign Minister of post-apartheid South Africa.

It is a matter of pride that quite a few individuals from the diplomatic cadre and other streams held top positions in certain sub-regional, regional, continental and international organisations. As an example, I had the honour and privilege to be elected, in June 1995, as a Deputy Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity and held the position of Commissioner during the organisation’s transition to the African Union up to 2003. Similarly, Prega Ramsamy held the position of Executive Secretary of SADC while others held high-ranking posts within the Francophonie, Commonwealth and the United Nations Organisation.

Of course, we have faced our share of stumbles on a few occasions and missed certain opportunities during our journey to date. Two such missed opportunities and lessons to be drawn from, were our failure to place two of our prominent and capable citizens to high-profile international positions that we had vied for: late Jayen Cuttaree for the post of Director-General of the WTO, and Jean Claude de l’Estrac, who excelled as Secretary General of the IOC, for Secretary General of La Francophonie. Geopolitics, its unfathomable meanders and diplomatic horse-trading had the better of us. As we seek to place former Minister Anil Gayan, to the top position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission, which comes up for election in February 2025, it behoves our diplomacy to chart out the appropriate stratagems to ensure that we get there. It will be one way of demonstrating, as in the past, our commitment to the progress of Africa, our continent.

Mauritius has always entertained friendly relations with one and all on the international scene. No wonder we garnered the support of the international community in our rightful struggle to retrieve our sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. That struggle is yet to reach its finality since we decided to engage in interminable negotiations with the UK despite the resolution of the UN enjoining the UK to hand over the Archipelago within six months of the passage of that resolution! The United Nations, for all its shortcomings, remains the only platform for small countries like ours to make our voices heard and advance our cause within the parameters of international law. It is, however, also true that the bigger players, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, brandish the Charter of the UN only when their purposes are served. Otherwise, it’s an arm-twisting or ‘empty chair’ diplomacy that is played, like last year, when four of the big Five opted to stay away from the annual UN summit, prompting its Secretary General to retaliate, by not convening the major polluters to a Climate mini Summit!

These are changing times. It is for us to adapt and refine our policies to meet the challenges that are becoming more complex. We need to be omnipresent on the diplomatic scene to unravel and claim our share from the spaghetti bowl that international relations are mired in.

Many an achievement in the interest of a country like ours is heavily dependent on the stewardship, foresightedness and perspicacity of its leadership and its human resource. In the field of international relations and diplomatic practice, these qualities play very heavily. The right person in the right place at the right time. Indeed, a degree of one’s success in diplomacy is often gauged by one’s prowess to seize opportunities to further the national interest.

Practitioners and keen followers of diplomacy will concur that the ‘operational level of foreign policy is the essential crucible for the formulation of diplomatic approaches to international challenges’. Diplomacy plays an important and essential role in furthering national interests. That is why it is of absolute necessity and an imperative for Mauritius to invest in its diplomatic personnel, equip them with the tools required to deliver successfully on our foreign policy objectives. There is nothing to be gained in placing certain individuals at the helm of our overseas missions, whose only claim to such positions is their seeming loyalty in advancing petty party politics or when they are perceived as a liability on the local political scene or indeed as a reward for services rendered. Of course, there are exceptions in that category.

This point has been made and repeated in other articles and essays I have penned. It is opportune to rehearse that position again as we approach a fresh bout of general elections for, no doubt, the waiting rooms of the major political leaders will be occupied by many an individual in quest of what they may perceive as a cushy job, without realising that a position of that nature demands attributes that may not be within their grasp and understanding at all.

Mauritius Times, for the past 70 years, has always been a source of informed analysis and knowledge covering a large spectrum of issues, local and international. It has always opened its columns to its readers offering them the possibility to share their thoughts and opinions. Kudos to its team who have kept the Mauritius Times flag floating ever since its revered founder, Beekrumsing Ramlallah, took the challenge to launch this paper in very difficult circumstances. Let the MT continue to provide us with food for thought come every Friday. Many happy returns!

Vijay Makhan served as the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Mauritius and was thereafter elected Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union)

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 16 August 2024