Further memorandum submitted by the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office
Letter to the Chairman of the Committee
from the Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
19 March 2003
I am writing to inform you that in response
to changes in our strategic priorities and in the pattern of British
interests overseas I have decided to make some changes to our
diplomatic representation in Central America. I enclose the written
statement which I intend to put before the House on 20 March.
The situation in Central America has evolved
since the period immediately following the devastating civil wars
of the 1980s and I have concluded that we no longer need a small
Embassy in every one of the seven countries between Mexico and
Colombia. I am therefore proposing to close our Embassy in El
Salvador and provide coverage from Guatemala City—only a
few hours drive away to the north. I also believe that the offices
which the Department for International Development maintains in
Honduras and Nicaragua are the most important aspects of HMG's
work in those countries. In those countries we therefore intend
to withdraw FCO personnel, but hope to appoint the senior local
DFID representatives as Charge d'Affaires. The Ambassador in Guatemala
City would be simultaneously accredited to these countries and
we would appoint Honorary Consuls to deal with local emergencies.
I believe that this modest reorganisation of
our work in Central America will allow us to respond to changing
priorities without damaging the UK's influence or effectiveness
in the region in any significant way.
REORGANISATION OF DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION
IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Written Statement by the Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Changing strategic priorities require the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office constantly to adapt and amend its pattern
of representation overseas. In order to free resources to strengthen
the UK's diplomatic network in other parts of the world now more
critical for UK interests, I have decided to make the following
adjustments to our diplomatic representation in Central America.
With effect from mid-summer, the Embassy in San Salvador will
be closed. We intend to appoint an Honorary Consul and for HM
Ambassador at Guatemala City to be simultaneously accredited to
the Government of El Salvador. Later this year and early next
year we intend to reorganise our representation in Honduras and
Nicaragua. In each case, we propose to appoint a Charge d'Affaires.
The Ambassadors will at the same time be withdrawn and HM Ambassador
at Guatemala City will be simultaneously accredited to both capitals.
The diplomatic representation in the other countries of the region
will remain unchanged.
Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
March 2003
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