Africa-Press – Botswana. President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s external travels to high-level meetings are meant to strengthen multilateralism and the benefits that come with it.
Botswana’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr Andrew Sesinyi said this on the sidelines of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi on Tuesday.
High Commissioner Sesinyi is the permanent representative to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlement Programme.
President Masisi is in Nairobi leading the Botswana delegation at the biennial assembly that focuses on strengthening environment multilateralism to address planetary crises of climate change.
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment and provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
“It is very important for Botswana to bear in mind that if you are not there, you are not being recognised. If you are not present in multilateral meetings, you are absent from the benefits that come with it,” Mr Sesinyi said.
The High Commissioner said the UNEA-6 assembly, which focuses on the environment and climate change, has many benefits such as technical and financial assistance and also human resource building capacities.
“These are issues that require you to be present if you are going to be on board and benefit as a country. As you know, drought and desertification have caused havoc in our country, and if you want to be counted and if you want your voice to be heard, you have to be present at these meetings at the highest level possible,” added Mr Sesinyi.
He noted that external travels by President Masisi were initiatives by experts, and other people on the ground.
“We are people who say Mr President the issues of huge national interest are here, please travel and be present for the country. That is not only for awareness but when we talk of investment assistance, and capacity building, he has to be there as the salesperson,” he said.
Mr Sesinyi said Botswana was in a good position in terms of environmental awareness and had built capacity to be self-sufficient in areas such as waste disposal hence the need to be part of multilateralism.
Mr Sesinyi said out of 20 resolutions and three decisions received by the Open Ended Permanent Representative Committee, Botswana was particularly interested in about 12 resolutions.
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