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Surinames Foreign Policy

1. Main Foreign Policy Priorities
Based on the Long Term Development Plan 2001 2005, points of interest in Surinames
foreign policy were as follows:

Resolving border disputes with Guyana and France (French Guiana).

Further regulations for obtaining the Surinamese nationality will be established and the
possibility of dual citizenship be verified.
Maintaining a good and peaceful neighborhood by working together with countries in
the region, such as Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Venezuela and other Caribbean
and Latin - American countries, including in CARICOM and ACP for the purpose of
national security and economic cooperation.
International cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels with countries outside the
American continent, including those in Africa, China, India and Indonesia, will be
continued; cordial relations and partnerships will be intensified with regards to the
Netherlands and other states of the regional Community
The integration of the Surinamese economy with that of the countries of Caricom and
effective participation in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will be pursued,
and the possibilities for cooperation in the context of Mercosur will be explored.
Support for Surinamese industry .The infrastructure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
will be fully aligned with the protection and promotion of legitimate interests of the
Surinamese private sector.
Direct development of bilateral relations will be achieved through the appointment of
honorary consuls.
Strengthening outposts by training and orienting Diplomats to gain the interest of foreign
investors and to search for outlets for Surinamese products.
Globalization. Provisions will be made for Surinames adequate response to all aspects of
the globalization process

Based on the Foreign Affairs Budget and Policy document for the 2014 budget year,
published in 2013 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the activities planned for 2014
comprised of:

Development diplomacy: Further support will be given to the recently-established

Presidential Diplomacy, as an important incentive for development diplomacy, and
establishing and maintaining bilateral relations at the highest levels in the context of
South-South cooperation. These dmarches have shown real potential, most notably in
the fields of agriculture development, industry and infrastructure
Cross-border relations: efforts in 2014 will be focused on further implementation of
cooperation agreements with our border and neighboring countries, for a speedy

achievement of the national development goals. The installation of an Integral National

Border Commission to monitor the judicial and geographical determination of
Surinames borders.
Bilateral relations: a number of Surinames bilateral relations with other countries will
be expanded on basis of political, economic and strategic interests, mutual benefits and
respect, further materialization of the existing development potential, and the provision of
a concrete contribution to the aforementioned development goals. Suriname will continue
its existing bilateral cooperation with focus countries in the Asian continent, and broaden
relations with focus countries in Africa and Europe.
Multilateral relations: Suriname is multilaterally connected to a several international
organizations, including the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). With its policy plans in mind, Suriname
will actively participate in discussions on urgent global issues such as poverty reduction,
non-communicable diseases, fighting HIV/AIDS, access to education, peace and security,
human rights and climate change, as well as increase participation in other organizations
with social-economic development in mind.
International development agreements and International trade: the Suriname
government aims to obtain both financial and technical help through targeted interactions
with the international community, regional and international organizations. Acquiring
finance sources that meet the conditions for investments, production and trade could help
create and further improve economic/social development of Suriname and its citizens.
Actively stimulating the execution capacity of the public and private sectors. Expanding
Surinames share in the international trade market by gaining entry on behalf of the
industrial sector. Develop a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to carry out and
maintain bilateral/multilateral cooperative agreements.
Migration and movement of persons: improvement of infrastructure at Consular
Affairs & Migration to ensure the monitoring of growing international travel activity. The
tourist card project for foreigners of Surinamese origin, French citizens and other
nationalities will be evaluated. Finalization of the Border Management Control System,
which was begun in 2012. Suriname plans to join the IOM (International Organization
for Migration) and use the available technical support. The diaspora policy will be
worked out, and a number of honorary consuls set up. Contact with the Netherlands, with
the largest group of immigrant Surinamers, is of importance.

According to President Bouterse during his 2014 annual address, the bulk of foreign
investment goes toward a) increasing production; b) improving infrastructure over the
whole country; c) guaranteeing energy; and d) expanding and improving the social,
medical and educative security of the Surinamese people.

2. Partnerships & alliances

Suriname is a member of numerous international organizations. Since gaining
independence, Suriname has joined the United Nations, the OAS, and the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM), the GATT and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Suriname is a
member of the Common Market and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). It is
associated with the European Union through the Lome Convention, and is also a full
member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific group (ACP). Suriname is also part of the
development agreement between the ACP and the European Union that culminated in the
Coutonou Agreement which lasts until 2020.
Suriname participates in the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), a
grouping of the countries of the Amazon Basin that focuses on protecting of the Amazon
region's natural resources from environmental degradation. Reflecting its status as a
major bauxite producer, Suriname is a member of the International Bauxite Association.
The country also belongs to the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Finance Corporation, the
World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In 1998, under the
Wijdenbosch government, Suriname became a member of the Islamic Development Bank
the multilateral financing institution founded by the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC). Just this year, the Islamic Development Bank made million-dollar
contributions to the maintenance and expansion of Suriname hospitals and its health
sector.
Currently, Suriname holds the presidency of the UNASUR (Union of South American
Nations), was a former chairman (2012) of CARICOM (Caribbean Community), and is a
member of CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).

3. International issues & standpoints

a. Terrorism
The President announced the establishment of a Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) in late
2010. The head of state said during a press conference that the CTU was installed as
prevention against domestic and international threats from the criminal world. He pointed
to drug trafficking and organized crime. The threats of climate change, human trafficking
are recognized, "but terrorism is high on the list," said Bouterse. According to him, the
CTU is a signal to the international community that Suriname does more than simply talk
about terrorism. The CTU itself received a relatively small amount of publicity at the
time, but questions swirled regarding Bouterses appointment of his only son, Dino
Bouterse, to the Unit. Many criticized the involvement of Dino, who had been arrested in
2005 on drug trafficking and weapons charges, but Bouterse maintained at the time that
he was the best man for this field. In 2011 and mid-2013, the opposition wrote to
President Bouterse asking for clarification about the legal status if any of the Counter

Terrorism Unit. However, no response was provided, and several members went on
record to state that the CTU was unlawfully-established and went against the
Constitution.
In late 2013, following the arrest and incarceration of Dino Bouterse in Panama, the issue
of terrorism prevention on home soil became a hot topic. He was accused by the U.S of
terroristic plots, including attempting to forge ties with Hezbollah operatives and plotting
to set up Suriname as a terrorist gateway to the Americas. The cabinet released a
statement in 2014 emphasizing that Suriname: has never been engaged in any terrorist
activity, continues to maintain good ties with the U.S.A, and that Dino was never the
head of the Counter Terrorism Unit. Foreign Minister Winston Lackin was quoted as
saying Terrorism does not belong in the Surinamese way of life. He also pointed out
the number of international summits and conferences hosted in the country, including the
ACP-EU meeting of ministers in 2012.

b. Maritime security
Suriname has 7 ports all river ports. There are 16 ISPS certified port facilities. The
main port in Suriname is the port of Paramaribo with approximately 600 port of calls in
2007. The Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) is the designated authority and the
Maritime Administration for Suriname. An overview of the organizational structure of
Maritime Security as prescribed by the Maritime Security Law is as follows:
The Ministry of Transport Communication and Tourism (TCT) is in charge of the
execution of Maritime Security. The Ministries of Justice and Police, Defense and the
Attorney General advise the President regarding matters such as establishing the security
levels. The Justice and Defense ministries also collect intelligence information about
possible/imminent threats and pass that information along to the Designated Authority
and the Maritime Administration which are in charge of the enforcement of Maritime
Security. The navy falls under the Ministry of Defense and is responsible for security at
sea, and escorting dangerous cargo. The MAS has organized trainings in cooperation with
the U.S Coast Guard in an effort to aid capacity building, vigilance and awareness. No
major security breaches have occurred in the recent past, however.
Because Suriname borders both French-Guiana, the French overseas region, and Guyana,
a fair amount of activity takes place between the three countries. Nickerie, the district that
borders the Corantyn River between Suriname and Guyana, is well known as an
important ferry crossover point. On the eastern side of the Suriname, the town of Albina
in the Marowijne district flanks French Guiana, allowing for the passageway of people
and goods. To the south, Suriname also borders the Brazilian states Para and Amapa, and
has recently announced cooperative efforts with local Brazilian troops to patrol the
border. Brazil and Suriname do not share any significant waterways and have mutually
recognized each others borders since 1906 unlike Surinames ongoing border disputes
with its two remaining neighbors.

The significant maritime, land, and river boundary disputes between Suriname and
Guyana existed long before the two nations gained independence from colonialism. Both
countries claim sovereignty over three regions: the Corantijn River, which separates
them; the New River Triangle, which lies at the southern edge of the adjacent countries;
and part of the Caribbean Sea, which extends north from their coastlines. The issue was
of relatively little importance until both countries discovered important natural resources
in the contested regions; gold deposits were found in the New River Triangle area and
offshore petroleum opportunities arose on the continental shelf. When both nations began
to realize that timely resolution was economically crucial, their renewed efforts to
achieve a comprehensive bilateral demarcation seemed promising. However, after years
of negotiations, during which time both sides may have sponsored and encouraged
unilateral development of the disputed regions, a mutually agreeable settlement has
proved far more elusive than originally anticipated. Suriname and Guyana still frequently
lock horns when it comes to illegal fishing in Suriname territory by small-scale Guyanese
sailors.
Suriname has been identified as a drug port by Dutch and American intelligence services.
However, courier smuggling of cocaine via air travel has largely decreased after Dutch
authorities tightened security on passengers traveling into Netherlands from Suriname
and the Antilles. Caribbean nations serve as transit countries for cocaine, mainly due to
their geographic position.
According to the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, released by the
US Department of State, Suriname is a transit zone for South American cocaine en route
to Europe, Africa and, to a lesser extent, the United States. The Dutch-speaking
Caribbean countrys sparsely populated coastal region and isolated jungle interior,
together with weak border controls and infrastructure, make narcotics detection and
interdiction efforts difficult. The State Department said while the Surinamese
government is committed to combating illegal narcotics trafficking, as a matter of policy,
Surinames practical ability to apprehend and prosecute narcotics traffickers remains
inhibited by drug-related corruption, bureaucratic hurdles, and inadequate legislation.

c. Climate change
Suriname is concerned about the impact of climate change, insofar as it threatens the
natural resources and Amazonian rainforest region. The country has long expressed
worries about local pollution caused by small-scale gold mining, but when it comes to
greenhouse gas emissions, Suriname belongs to a bracket of countries that produce 0.01%
of all emissions. Thus, recent policies have not actively focused on minimizing
emissions, as much as investing in sustainable energy solutions for the future and
regulating the logging and mining sector.
Suriname is particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change due to its
low lying coastal zone. Suriname is 7th on the list of countries that could likely see their

coastline covered by 1 meter of sea water within the coming 85 years. Sea level rise may
threaten large areas of the coastal region. Being aware of these impacts, the government
policy has been directed toward as little as possible interference with existing natural
systems, while making use of the natural resources for the benefit of the country. This
policy has led to the establishment of several protected areas in the coastal zone and
hinterland of the country, and efforts are being made to effectively manage these areas
and promote conservation. Suriname is participating in the United Nations Collaborative
Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UNREDD Programme), and a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) mission
recently visited Suriname from the 26 - 27th of April to discuss arrangements with the
Government and UNDP Suriname for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation (REDD+) in Suriname. In addition, the country actively participates in
negotiations of the United Nations Forum on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

4. Internal Issues
This year, Suriname made a number of changes to its Nationality laws allowing individuals to
retain dual nationality and apply for citizenship upon proof of two years marriage. The
government also clarified the status of Persons of Surinamese Descent (PSA), which enables
people born in Suriname or having one or more Surinamese parents/grandparents to apply for a
document that provides them with certain rights. Recently, a top politician called for the
inclusion of sportspeople and athletes in nationality legislation; by issuing athletes and top
sporters of Surinamese descent a passport, they could represent the country in international
competitions. The issue has not yet been debated in parliament.
Suriname is also concerned about the prevalence of women in top governmental and managerial
positions not only in the country but throughout the region. At the same time, the LGBTQ
community has been slowly building a platform in the country on which to discuss the
discrimination still faced by many members, as well as prejudicial statements made in parliament
by notable MPs. This year, the Ook Zij (She too) campaign aimed to raise awareness about the
potential of women when it comes to politics in the country. The second Caribbean Women and
Sexual Diversity Conference was held in Suriname on October 6 and 10.

5. Main bilateral relationships

During his 2014 annual address, President Bouterse spoke of donations, creditlines, funding and
technical cooperation programs between Suriname and friendly nations, including China,
Venezuela, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Cuba, Japan, Iran, and Turkey. The country has closed soft
loans with the Islamic Development Bank, the European Development Fund and the French
Development Fund. Several commercial loans have been/will be taken at private international
banks in Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland, and with established internationallyoperating major businesses from India, China, Netherlands and Israel.

According to the Foreign Affairs Budget and Policy document for the 2014 budget year,
published in 2013 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Suriname is focusing on its neighboring
countries for a number of reasons: in terms of Security, it maintains good relations with Brazil,
Guyana and Venezuela. The countries collaborate to tackle issues such as drug-related
criminality, illegal fishery, human trafficking, smuggling and terrorism in the region. Brazil is an
important strategic partner for Suriname, due to its status as the largest South-American country
and its membership in the BRICS group. Suriname aims to be an economic, social, cultural and
political bridge between the South American continent and the Caribbean region. Surinames
cooperation with Guyana exists in the areas of fishery, sport, crime prevention and security,
education, agriculture, energy, water provision, environment and wood processing. The
construction of a bridge over the Corantyn river would facilitate these relations as well as travel
between the two nations.
Surinames government recently set its sights on expanding bilateral ties with France. Foreign
Affairs minister, Winston Lackin, recently stated
We see not only French Guiana, but France: we are connected to one of the major European
powers, one of the key players in the ACP-EU relationship, said Lackin. There are a lot of
cooperation instruments, including the River Council, with events in the field of security and
community safety programs on the Maroni River. We work together in the field of
environment. Crime along the border also receives much attention.
Suriname maintains a good friendship and cooperative relations with the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela. Suriname and Venezuela have recently been connected through Surinames
participation in the Petrocaribe Initiative for agrarian purposes. In 2013, countries also held talks
to finalize a fishery agreement.
Beside the relations with its neighboring countries, Suriname maintains bilateral relations with
over 100 countries in the world. According to the 2013 policy document, the country is primarily
focused on the United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavian countries as potential new
partners in Europe. Existing bilateral relations with Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, Georgia
and Turkey will be expanded. In 2012, Suriname opened a new embassy in Paris to improve ties
with France. In 2013, Suriname and Turkey signed a Friendship and Cooperation agreement and
the Trade and Economic agreement. Honorary consuls were appointed in both countries. The
Suriname government intends to establish an embassy in Germany.
Surinames good bilateral relations with the United States was bolstered by the signing of the
Open Skies aviation agreement with the United States in July 2013. Suriname is also partnered
with the state of South Dakota, and regularly exchanges training resources in the field of
education and the military sector.
Barbados has expressed interest in working together with Suriname on the basis of agriculture
and fishery. The Joint Economic, Technical and Cultural Cooperation Commision should lead to
concrete collaboration in the fields of agriculture, trade and investment, housing, environment
and marine matters, culture and sport. Cuba and Suriname have a fairly intensive relation, esp. in
areas of sport, education, healthcare, and trade. This year, the Festival del Fuego was held in

honor of Suriname, and Cuba recently presented Surinames ambassador to Cuba with a high
cultural distinction.
China and Suriname have an existing agriculture and infrastructural cooperation including the
construction of a hospital in Wanica, roads and housing projects. China has invested in major
countries in CARICOM, and the China Caribbean Consultation Mechanism and the China
Caribbean Economic & Trade Cooperation Forum exist to improve the technical and economic
cooperation.
Bilateral relations with India primarily take place within the cooperation mechanism of the
Suriname-India Mixed Commission. The countries hold ministerial meetings in New Delhi, and
five creditlines have been set up to carry out agreed-upon projects. Suriname also has a Mixed
Commission with Indonesia based on the national development plan 2011- 2016.
Suriname hopes to expand ties of cooperation with African focus countries, such as Botswana,
Angola, Zambia, and Namibia as well as bilateral relations with Australia and New Zealand in
the context of the active role of the latter in the United Nations Security Council. Suriname
views these countries as interesting alternatives to diversify and expand traditional cooperation
agreements. Suriname also teams up with countries within the United Nations to tackle global
issues such as securing international peace and safety, poverty reduction, and equal opportunity,
food security, and climate change