Cabinet has approved the appointments of a number of diplomats accredited to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
The appointees include Non-Resident Ambassador of the State of Israel, His Excellency Gil Artzyeli, Non-Resident Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency, Holger Wilfred Michael, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany to the consular district of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Mr. Ralf Hemsing, Non-Resident High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Najm us Saqib, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Surasak Suparat.
Israel
A career diplomat, Non-Resident Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Gil Artzyeli worked in several positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem and held numerous diplomatic posts in Bogotá, Colombia; Madrid, Spain; Mexico; and in Los Angeles, United States of America.
The appointment of Ambassador Artzyeli is expected to further enhance Guyana’s cooperation with the State of Israel in education, health, agriculture, technology and investment.
Present diplomatic relations with Israel were established on March 9, 1992. Since then Israel has continued to share its expertise with Guyana in several areas including health, agriculture, technology, and infrastructure development for information communication technology (ICT).
Ambassador Artzyeli will reside in Panama.
Germany
Prior to his most recent post in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Non-Resident Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Holger Wilfred Michael worked in various German Missions including Turkey, Nicaragua, Bonn, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and Bangladesh.
Following the establishment of diplomatic relations on September 2, 1966, Germany aided in the sustainable management of selected areas of conservation under the Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS), providing finance and training. In 2004, 100 percent of Guyana’s foreign debt to Germany was cancelled under a Bilateral Conversion Agreement signed by Guyana and Germany. The German Government also continues to offer training and scholarships to the people of Guyana.
Germany and Guyana continue to support each other’s interests including support for foreign policy. Guyana has signalled its support for Germany’s candidature to the United Nations Security Council for 2019-2020.
Ambassador Michael will succeed H.E. Dr Lutz Görgens and will reside in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Cabinet has also granted approval for the appointment of Mr Ralf Hemsing to the position of Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany to the consular district of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Mr. Hemsing, a German citizen and the operations manager of the National Milling Company of Guyana Incorporated (NAMILCO), will replace the current Honorary Consul Mr. Bernend Jan Hendrik Ter Welle.
Pakistan
The appointment of His Excellency Najm us Saqib, Non-Resident High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is expected to provide an opportunity for Guyana and Pakistan to advance cooperation at both a bilateral level and within the Commonwealth and organizations where both countries share membership.
Prior to his most recent post as the High Commissioner of Pakistan in South Africa, High Commissioner Najm us Saqib worked at various missions in Bangladesh, Spain, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Canada and Cuba.
Since establishing diplomatic relations on November 10, 1967, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana have maintained a relationship at a multilateral level through international bodies such as the Commonwealth and United Nations.
High Commissioner Najm us Saqib will be based in Brasilia, Brazil.
Thailand
Cabinet has also approved the appointment of H.E. Surasak Suparat to the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Ambassador Suparat joined the Foreign Service of Thailand in 1983 and since then has held worked in Thailand’s missions in Indonesia, the United States of America, Cambodia and South Africa.
Guyana and Thailand established diplomatic relations on December 17, 1987. Since then, both countries have collaborated in international organizations such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the G-77 and China.
Presently, the highly decorated Ambassador is serving as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Federative Republic of Brazil. The Ambassador will be based in Brasilia, Brazil. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
