Have you ever wondered what is the purpose of international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization? Then listen to United Nations Television's excellent interview with Matthew Wilson, Barbados' Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.
Passionate about diplomacy, human relations and, of course, his native Barbados, this brilliant ambassador is pragmatic about the challenges of multilateralism.
As far as the power games of international politics are concerned, Ambassador Wilson asks what forum other the United Nations could give a voice to the smallest states, taking into consideration their national and regional concerns? However, it’s important to know how to make your voice heard at the big boys’ table to influence decision-making when negotiating international treaties. To achieve this, one must first be at peace with the past, clear about one's identity and realistic about one's resources. Barbados has understood this.
Ambassador Matthew Wilson solemnly recalls the tragic history of his people, enslaved by the British Empire, and the determination of Barbadians to come to terms with this painful past, through education and by reclaiming an African heritage. "We are a very resilient people. We are crafting a future for ourselves that builds on our past — the good and the bad — to create our own identity, a Caribbean identity."
While solidifying its identity, this small state remains keen to forge alliances with others using a humanistic approach, allowing its voice to reach the very highest spheres. And multilateral diplomacy is the secret weapon that enables less powerful countries to work their way up from the lower echelons to the top.
To this end, listening to the concerns of neighboring countries strengthens the sense of regional belonging; defending the interests of other regions fosters inter-regional reciprocity; and finally, supporting global causes (climate change, employment, migration, etc.) helps position one's country and region in these global issues. In a nutshell the Ambassador concludes, “For small countries, multilateralism is about pooling your human resources to have a louder perspective on the outside world.”
And what does this 166-square-mile state hope to achieve in its role at the United Nations? Inject morality into global strategic leadership. It's not for nothing that this young state, independent for barely 50 years, boasts ‘United Nations House’, home to the regional offices of a dozen specialized UN agencies. As the saying goes, "If you are good enough, you are old enough.”
Author: Jihane Sfeir English Translation by Joy Lewis (https://www.aaatranslationservicesbb.com/en/
Ambassador Wilson's podcast interview