Bahamas and the Netherlands
to strengthen ties
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Tuesday, February 17,
2009/
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By Lindsay Thompson
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS):
The Bahamas is seeking the support of The Netherlands for a
level playing field regarding the tax recovery policy of the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), as both countries seek closer ties on a number of
diplomatic matters.
This was among matters outlined by Sir Arthur Foulkes,
Deputy to the Governor General, as he accepted Letters of
Credence from Regina Veronica Maria Jones-Bos, Ambassador of
the Netherlands to The Bahamas, in a ceremony at Government
House.
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Regina Veronica Maria Jones-Bos, Ambassador of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands to The Bahamas presented
her credentials to Sir Arthur Foulkes, Deputy to the
Governor General.
(BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay) |
Sir Arthur also said that
from the perspective of bilateral relations and the strong
ties between both countries, the Bahamas is seeking The
Netherlands’ support for sustainable European investment and
its candidacy in the United Nations Economic and Social
Council and the Commission on Sustainable Development.
“The Bahamas values the cordial relations that exist between
the Kingdom of The Netherlands and looks forward to
continued friendly ties,” Sir Arthur said. “During this time
of economic recession, continued enhanced cooperation can
help to mitigate the negative impact on our tourism and
financial services industries.
“We note, especially, that human rights are a high priority
of your Government and we were pleased to support your
candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights
Council,” he said.
Sir Arthur acknowledged the “important role” The Netherlands
played as a member of the Troika that facilitated the review
of The Bahamas during the universal periodic review process.
This took place at the third session of the working group of
the Human Rights Council in Geneva in December, 2008.
“Our foreign policy priorities and as yet unfulfilled
potential for complementarities with our economic strengths,
provide important and immediate objectives with regard to
your pledge to strengthen further the already very friendly
and strong relations that our two countries and peoples
share,” Sir Arthur said.
Ambassador Jones-Bos said that the similarities between both
countries go beyond history and geography.
She noted that economically, The Bahamas and The Netherlands
Antilles and Aruba are a lot alike. The strong points of The
Bahamas economy are tourism and financial services.
“In the face of the current economic recession these sectors
might suffer above-average and might undo development and
economic growth that we have taken for granted throughout
the last years.
“Against this background an enhanced cooperation between our
two countries is to our mutual benefit; in particular in
these times of economic and financial uncertainty,”
Ambassador Jones-Bos said.
She also commended Attorney General Michael Barnett for the
“open and fruitful” discussions in Geneva on human rights in
general, and the rights of women and children in particular.
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