Africa-Press – Seychelles. Ambassador Vincent Degert, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation for Seychelles and Mauritius, yesterday paid a farewell visit to the Head of State, President Wavel Ramkalawan, at the State House to mark the end of his term.
He also paid farewell visits yesterday to Vice President Ahmed Afif and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde.
“We have been working together for four years and we have gone through quite complicated times such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, drug trafficking and organized crime. We had a lot of work to do, but we did it in a constant, mutual dialogue which allowed us to consolidate the relationship between the European Union and the Seychelles. Thanks to the commitment of the President and the government, we were able to build these stages together. Today we have a very strong and tight-knit relationship. We will be concluding other agreements soon, especially on drug control. Seychelles is at the forefront in this area and I hope that other countries will follow Seychelles’ example, because together we will be more effective,” Mr. Degert said.
Ambassador Degert also congratulated the two presidents ‒ President Wavel Ramkalawan and President Danny Faure ‒ for the excellent transition in 2020. Other topics discussed during the meeting were blue economy, culture among others.
Ambassador Degert describes the relationship between Seychelles and the EU as “a frank, close and supportive relationship as well. The EU has greatly appreciated the role of Seychelles in the votes at the international level especially on the subject of climate change and political issues. We have common values and that is where we show our solidarity.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde took the opportunity to thank Ambassador Degert for the unwavering commitment to the various projects on which the Seychelles and the EU have collaborated. “We had excellent working relations throughout your term and were able to deliver many projects,” said Minister Radegonde.
The two sides also referred to the successful initiatives deployed during Ambassador Degert’s tenure, in particular the completion of a number of projects under the 11th European Development Fund’s €10 million program at the supporting Seychelles’ implementation of the current Interim Economic Partnership Agreement. Ambassador Degert described the partnership between Seychelles and the EU as strong and assured that his successor will continue to strengthen it further. “Time has passed too quickly, despite the presence of Covid-19, I believe that we have made a lot of progress and I am proud of it,” said the ambassador.
Other topics discussed were EU-Seychelles cooperation under the EU’s new Multiannual Financial Framework – Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (INDIC), maritime security and the report of the United Nations High Level Panel on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index.
Ambassador Degert was accredited as Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Seychelles on October 8, 2019.
He spent 36 years in the European institutions and after the Seychelles he is retiring. He will indulge in other activities but will rather stay on geopolitics and he will always have an eye for the Seychelles. “I will always carry the Seychelles in my heart,” concluded Ambassador Degert.
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