{"id":114252,"date":"2021-05-14T16:02:13","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T23:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=114252"},"modified":"2021-05-14T16:02:13","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T23:02:13","slug":"foreign-policy-is-it-a-necasiaty-for-a-naion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2021\/05\/14\/foreign-policy-is-it-a-necasiaty-for-a-naion\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018\u2019FOREIGN POLICY\u2019\u2019 \u2013 IS IT A NECASIATY FOR A NAION?\u2019\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sarath Wijeisnghe President\u2019s Counsel, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and President Ambassador\u2019s Forum<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Foreign Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Henry Kissinger – America has no permanent friends or enemies- Only\ninterests)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign policy is the set of rules or practices followed by a nation as\na member of the global forum linked by the UN today as guidelines to the\ninternational organizations and the member states. This is the simplest\ndefinition in addition to detailed academic definitions. Set of rules could be\nwritten, direct, and indirect or in the form of speeches or declarations of the\nhead of the state generally the formulator of the policy implemented by the Foreign\nMinister or the group of ministers. In any event any state enters into\nagreements, conventions and treatises which are part and parcel of foreign\npolicy which is intact in the system on foreign policy. Some countries give\nspecial attention and emphasises on foreign policy and some are not. USA, UK,\nRussian Federation, China, are some giving priority to foreign policy and\nsensitive to the foreign policies of other countries may be due to their\ninterests on other countries and their policies. One of the first duties of the\nnew USA President to perform was to revamp, reform and reactivate the foreign policy\nof USA, in line with his policies of other countries, especially in dealing\nwith the rest of the world and other nations by taking a complete U-turn from\nthat of the policies of the predecessor on human rights and war. He put the\nforeign policy in order as has been done by his predecessors which has a\nbearing on Sri Lanka and the Geneva process. Member nations today are giving\ntop priority on economy connecting directly to the foreign policy giving full\npower and responsibility to the network of Ambassadors who are guided and\ntrained on promoting economy and financial needs of respective countries,\ngiving targets and strict guidelines. Unfortunately this trend has no ripple\neffect on our network of Ambassadors around the globe enjoying the perks at the\ncost of the tax payer, and the cradle of the network of the representatives of\nthe country expected to showcase the country to the world which is so easy as\nSri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with human\nresources, water in abundance and excellent climatic conditions unappalled as\nan ideal tourist destination. Foreign policy is the strategy and the future\nline of action of a nation on other nations and the world at large is a broader\ndefinition in terms of economic, defence, and all other areas which are so\nimportant and sensitive to the world over. This brief explanation shows how\nimportant it is for a country like Sri Lanka desperately in need of good\nfriends and backers considering the weak economic structure deteriorating\ngradually in need of FDIs, and other economic backings including the goodwill\nof friends in need when the economy is in bad shape, debt riddled and in need\nof foreign reserves when acing the covid 19 crisis, just next to India one of\nthe most affected. No nation can live in isolation in the new world\ninterconnected digitally with physical barriers not taken serious when,\ninterrelations and interconnections are essential for all for existence showing\nforeign policy is a necessity for a nation connected to each other through the\nnetwork of  the United Nations. The\nstatement of Henry Kissinger above may apply to many countries as the interest\nof any nation is their own country giving top priority is a reality all the\nother states must remember. This is a classic example and a lesson for those\ncountries who are aligned to groups or clicks based on various considerations. There\nare theories and pronouncements and suggestions on look Asia, India first, Asia\nfirst, and Sri Lanka first etc. from various sources without the direct\nattention of the head of the state the formulator and creator of the policy.\nLeaders and governance of any country consist of human beings with human\nweaknesses when the human qualities are supressed with power, due to greed and\npride. The above quotation indicates how selfish they are as any other human\nbeing vested with power! It is the interests of the respective country is what\nmatters other than other considerations for a member of the nations in the\nworld family too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Policy and Covid 19 Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covid 19 has shown the world the need to be \u2018\u2019friendly with all and\nangry with none\u2019\u2019 the main motto of Sri Lankan foreign policy. Indian foreign\npolicy is one of the most professional, advanced and sophisticated- yet has not\nbeen able to attract friends and world in the need of desperate help from\nfriends. We watch India with utmost sadness helplessly watching the TV footages\nwhich are worrying. We have now forgotten all previous issues and enmities\nduring pandemic when all are in danger (reminder  of the Cobra and Mongoose- arch enemies-\nclinging into the same wood during floods until it reaches a land for\nprotection- a famous village adage ) awaiting for the worst to come. Entire\nworld including world powers are engulfed in the worst stages of pandemic with\nhighest number of deaths and disasters expecting the worst not to reach. It may\nbe that the world may rethink on a new thinking and way forward for foreign\npolicy formations and applications the way UN was formed in place of League of\nNations after the disastrous Second World War with so many killings and\ndisasters. It is our wishful prey that the Pandemic will not override the\nSecond World War but unfortunately the signals that we receive seems to be\nunsatisfactory and dangerous. Therefore this is the best era to extend loving\nkindness, sympathy and \u2018\u2019Mettha\u2019\u2019 to all nations by rich and powerful,\nespecially those poor and unfortunate who have still not received a single\nvaccination when some powerful and rich nations have excess vaccinations about\nto be expired! Expecting and wishing a new chapter on foreign policy for a new\nworld foreign policy order. There is no expectations to see to an end to the\npandemic in the near future and we will have to live with it for a considerable\nunknown period. This is the time you will find the friends in need, in this\ndisaster when everybody is going through the misery. Apart from the WHO it is\nonly China who came forward to help us followed by financial by Korea and\nvaccinations from India. Unfortunately India had her own problems and unable to\ngive us the promised second vaccination which is understood. Situation on\npandemic is unchanged and escalating worldwide as wildfire. There appear to be\nno immediate end to the pandemic and the world is compelled to live with it for\na considerable period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Policy, Human Rights and United Nations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign policy and human rights and United Nations are interwoven and\ninterconnected. Charter of the United Nations was brought in to reaffirm the\nfundamental and human rights to save succeeding generations from the scourge of\nwar which twice in lifetime has brought unfold sorrow to the mankind as the\nmain human right document followed by Universal Declaration of Human rights. Human\nrights are rights human beings enjoy being human which is more fully described\nin the two main documents and subsequent jurisprudence, which is protected and\njealously guarded protecting individual and collective human rights equally by\na battery of subsidiary legislation, Geneva process being a by-product of the\nlegislation and procedure. United Nations Organization is the link and the\ncentre of the human rights mechanism managed and monitored by number of\nconventions and instruments. Human Rights Commission and the committee that  are by products of the legislation which has\ncertain powers and duties in monitoring the human rights of member nations\nalleged to be in contravention of violation of human rights in member counters.\nIt is alleged that there were human rights violation during the last phase of\nthe thirty year war in Sri Lanka that fortunately ended in May 2009 with relief\nto the entire SAARC region and the world in inhalation of the most ruthless and\nfeared tersest outfit in the world as said by the USA and man international\norganizations. At the 47 member Council in the UN 22 voted in favour,\n11opposed, 14 abstained for the resolution on deep concern on the human right\nsituation in Sri Lanka, wanting to accelerate the reconciliation process and\nimprove human rights situation in Sri Lanka. It is noted with concern that our\nimmediate neighbour India and close friend Nepal abstained without voting in\nfavour of Sri Lanka, reminding us of the theories abovementioned on foreign\npolicies of nations and the impact on world affairs which are so important. It\nseems that we have to rethink, reform and readjust our foreign policy with the word\nclose neighbours and friends for our benefit and safety and foreign policy is\nto be considered seriously and to be taken care of. Even though the Human\nRights Council has no power of implementation of suggestions, there impact is\nto be considered seriously in making recommendations to the General Assembly\nand the Security Council despite sovereignty Sri Lanka maintains under the UN\nConvention. United Kingdom initiated the resolution against Sri Lanka and\nCanada in the forefront is contemplating a resolution namely Genocide Education\nresolution bill no 104, which is worrying and affects the friendly relations between\nthe two counters. Hon Minister has had a meeting with the Canadian Ambassador\non the issue and it is doubtful the initiators will abandon the moves. Add to\ninjury Sri Lanka has still not appointed High commissioners for India (one\nyear) and Canada which are supposed to be crucial stations, and one wonders\nwhether Sri Lanka lacks top qualified personalities, ambassadors to represent\nthe Nation. It is time the Human Rights omission in Sri Lanka, takes care of\nthe matter with the backing and strength of enormous staff and funds available\nwith all facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka well-funded independent body by the\nstate and international organization which is headed by a powerful highly\nconnected former Minister who does not seem to be active and inert at this\ncrucial juncture when it should be in the forefront defending and promoting Sri\nLanka in the Geneva process. The only book that was published on this area is\nthe Geneva Crisis the way forward by the Ambassadors Forum assisted by world\nSri Lankan bodies including the London initiative based in London. Geneva issue\nis brewing and the second and third wave on the way is going to be dangerous,\nand it is time for the Minister and Ministry to act fast with the Chairman of\nthe Human Rights Commission to defend and promote Sri Lanka. Commission should\nbe proactive and live up to the expectations and the facilities given with\nenormous local and foreign funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAARC, ASEAN, BIMSTIC, and regional and international organizations and\nforeign policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka is a member of the above and many other regional, and\ninternational organizations as an active and senior member of the United\nNations playing a pivot role in international affairs that need promotion of\nSri Lanka in areas of national and international interest. Regional groupings\nare important and an integral part of the foreign policy making on regional\nbasis when UM deals with internationally. SAARC the South Asian Association for\nregional cooperation was established aiming to be another EU in Asia, had a\nnatural death due the enormity between India and Pakistan giving birth to\nBIMSTEC with another group of Asian countries, whilst ASEAN was active with\nanother vibrant group with different intentions organizing aria in the world\nstage meeting the competition of the west. All the groups are worst hit with\nIndia most effected with no joint and cooperative efforts to meet the main\nchallenge Covid19 which is a main drawback. International and regional\nrelations should play more important and active role in these matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical aspects of foreign policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign policy is a part of the history and interactions of the rulers\nwith other nations in the past. We are supposed to have a written history over\n2500 years, and unwritten over 5000 or more with legends such as Rama and\n\u2018Ravana\u2019\u2019 substantiated with Asian History which cannot be ruled out and among\nthe written are the arrival of \u2018Arhath Mahinda\u2019 as an Emissary of his father\nKing Asoka a most powerful King sent son and daughter to propagate Buddhism to\nSri Lanka on 3rd<\/sup> Century BC. Chinese Monk \u2018\u2019Fa-Hsian\u2019\u2019 visited Sri\nLanka in 426BC with other monks and developed a close relations with the King\nand \u2018Sangha\u2019 Monks in Sri Lanka and written extensively on Buddhism and Sri\nLanka. In BC22-7AD during Claudius of Rome Ambassadors exchanged from Sri Lanka\nand them are recorded in Rome showing the historical prints on developments of\nforeign policy with Sri Lanka and many countries, in Rome, Middle East, China\nand India. Pre and post-colonial era\u2019s agreements entered into with foreign\nposers and Sri Lankan rulers until in 1815 when the British entered into the \u2018\u2019Kandyan\nConvention\u2019\u2019 with some Kandyan Leaders and British  surrendering the sovereignty to British until\nregained in 1948. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Network of Ambassadors in the forefront in showcasing and protecting the\ninterests of the Nation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ambassadors are the forerunners of any nation implementing and promoting\nthe country they represent based on the foreign policy and directives, and are\nlearned active men of honour promoting trade, investments, and policies of the\ncountry they represent to the word over assisting the leader of the country and\nthe leader they represent. In Sri Lanka Ambassadors in many countries appear to\nbe active and at times overdoing and reacting in crucial matters but do not\nappear to be active at the times of need such as defending the malicious\npropaganda against Sri Lanka especially on Geneva issue. We do not hear of any\ndocuments, webinars or articles by our ambassadors in defending and promoting\nthe country which is expected of them. Are they promoting the country and the\npolicies defending the nation are questions raised by the concerned citizens\nand student of international relations worldwide. It is agreed that they should\nbe more proactive and forthwith with other ambassadors worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Way Forward to Save the Nation and get out of the difficulties\nconfronted with<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are in a grave danger in all areas, especially the Pandemic front – the\nentire world is rounded up with. It is the duty of the Minister of Foreign\nAffairs, and the able and energetic state Minister to consider the issue more seriously\nand draw up a plan to mobilize the Ambassadors, the able Ministry staff and the\ninternational organizations such as London Initiate and many awaiting and eager\nto help mainly on the Geneva Process brewing daily fast reaching the wave two\nand three approaching faster than expected and the covid19 the entire country\nand the world is engulfed with. It is the duty of the professionals and\nlikeminded concerned persons worldwide to rally rough the Minister and the\nMinistry in fighting against covid 19 and helping Sri Lanka. Economy is in bad\nshape and it is time to give priority to economic diplomacy and open a separate\ndesk in all Embassies for economic promotions including tourism, exports,\nagriculture, and learn from success stories of our colleagues and apply it to\nus. It is also a good idea for the Ambassador of the host country to be\nresponsible for all governmental institutions in the country they represent\nthemselves.  Israel has successfully\nclamped down the pandemic menace and our relations with Israel are excellent,\nwhen they are awaiting to help us. Current Prime Minister in Israel, and former\nPresident in Sri Lanka met with each other and discussed matters of mutual\nbenefits and interests given rise to main developments. We have close\ndiplomatic relations with Israel, and it is a matter of initiatives to go\nforward for the benefit of all. There are other success stories and our\nrepresentatives by now may have reported to the Minister on the success stories\nand methods to learn from others. Other areas we can work in cooperation with\nIsrael is agriculture where they are the leaders on the subject advising even\nworld powers, on drip irrigation seeds fertilizer related matters. China is\nalways a friend helping us over thousands of years, and others need not be\nruled out such as India and even the west in trouble these days will like to\nreactivate friendship with us out of sheer necessity including world powers\nailing from beating s form pandemic nobody could escape. A joint effort is\nrequired with the cooperation of the world body UN, all small and major powers,\nand international organizations to launch a consolidated joint effort as human\nbeings and a human community taking our giant neighbour as an example of\nmismanaging the situation (including Sri Lanka). It seems we have to give top\npriority to fight the Covod19 menace as the indications are it is going to take\na long period for a complete clampdown with dangers of new variants based on\nthe behaviour of unseen danger Covid 19 growing faster and steadily. Foreign\npolicy and relations play a pivot role in harnessing the efforts and resources\nof the world community in combating the menace as now things are dangerously\nescalating with most stringent rules which obviously should have been\nimplemented before, being the language some Sri Lankans will understand. Even\nthis period of uncertainty and danger, we must sit and relax to educate\nourselves on a new life line life and a vision on a new roadmap for foreign\npolicy based on mistakes made and future plans on all aspects of governance. The\nForeign Minister and the State Minister has the responsibility and a pivot roll\nin mobilizing the Ambassadors in the fight against Covid19  using the good will and good offices of\nAmbassadors to gather assistance from the Sri Lankans in respective countries\nobviously in highest positions to fight the Pandemic fast spreading. Sri\nLankans worldwide especially in UK, USA, Europe and powerful countries and\ninternational organizations are eagerly awaiting to help with inviting  leadership to the Sri Lankans overseas, and\nother groups, and it is time the two Ministers and the Ministry give the\nnecessary leadership, whilst discussing with the President and Prime Minister\nnew strategies  foundations and\nroadmaps  for a Sri Lanka Friendly\nForeign Policy as suggested in the five volumes on Foreign Policy Books published\nby the Ambassador\u2019s Forum. Sarath7@hotmail.co.uk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sarath Wijeisnghe President\u2019s Counsel, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and President Ambassador\u2019s Forum Foreign Policy (Henry Kissinger – America has no permanent friends or enemies- Only interests) Foreign policy is the set of rules or practices followed by a nation as a member of the global forum linked by the UN today as guidelines […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sarath-wijesinghe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114252\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}