00:00Former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says he's proud to see TNT secure a seat on the United Nations Security
00:07Council,
00:08describing the achievement as the result of years of preparation by successive governments and the country's diplomatic core.
00:16But while congratulating those involved in the successful bid, Dr. Rowley cautioned that the responsibility now extends beyond securing the
00:25seat.
00:26He wrote to Facebook saying,
00:28Thanks to former Minister Brown, his successor, and more so our technical and diplomatic officers at home and abroad.
00:36Now that we've agreed to accept this responsibility, not for the first time,
00:41I'm very concerned as to how we as a nation will conduct ourselves at this forum.
00:47In the statement, he expressed concern over what he described as recent departures from Trinidad and Tobago's long-standing diplomatic
00:56traditions,
00:56arguing that the country's foreign policy positions could face greater examination during its tenure on the Council.
01:04Dr. Rowley said the government must be prepared to take principal positions on major international issues,
01:10including conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe,
01:14the humanitarian situation in Cuba,
01:17respect for international law, and support for the United Nations Charter.
01:21Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Atts shared similar sentiments when our cameras caught up with her outside the Red House today.
01:29With that prestige comes a lot of responsibility because sitting on the United Nations Security Council,
01:34dealing with everything from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to Palestine and Israel,
01:40the United States, invading the conflict with Iran,
01:43and other things that might come up, including issues of security that might arise from the climate change.
01:50So with that in mind, I think it is an interesting time for us to be there already from 2027,
01:56because it now means that we have the opportunity to contribute to some of these conversations
02:00and to really have a say in terms of global security issues.
02:05Rowley, meanwhile, cautioned the government that citizens will be closely watching
02:09how Trinidad and Tobago represents itself and the wider Caribbean region,
02:14insisting that the country's role on the Security Council should be guided by principle
02:19rather than political point scoring.
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