United Nations, New York – On the 6th of September, 2024, as the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations follows through on implementing the Federation’s geostrategic foreign policy, The Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade visited Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia, on a working visit to deepen relations in the strategically important Eurasian country. Foreign Minister Douglas was ably supported and accompanied by Mrs. Lecia Phipps, diplomat at the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations.
The working visit to the Georgian capital comes as Foreign Minister Douglas works to diversify the Federation’s diplomatic portfolio in emerging regions and markets. In commenting on his successful trip to Georgia, the Foreign Minister underlined that “St. Kitts and Nevis must manoeuvre diplomatically in every jurisdiction where opportunities for sustainable development partnerships exist.” Foreign Minister Douglas added, “Georgia sits at the crossroads between East and West, and boasts a growing industrial and creative economy that offers avenues for cooperation in the areas of tourism, trade, education, investment and capacity building.”
Foreign Minister Douglas signalled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is keenly working with the Georgian government to complete a visa waiver regime to nurture people-to-people ties, as well as business and investment relations. The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and Georgia established diplomatic relations in 2011.
In reflecting upon her experience, Mrs. Lecia Phipps, diplomat at the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the UN noted that “Georgia’s model of development, and best practices in public administration and e-government, and cultural diversity hold enormous potential for the Federation, as we build resilience and sustainability.”
The UN, through its multilateral agenda, facilitates the necessary opening for driving forward a closer engagement with Georgia. The Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the UN is committed to leveraging the momentum of the upcoming General Assembly (UNGA79) to deepen relations in Eurasia, and across the United Nations membership.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ working visit was supported and fully funded by the Government of Georgia as part of a new bilateral framework.