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Phanama · 07-17-2022, 01:35 PM

Foreign Minister Ava Oakwell: "We cannot be quiet"
By Anna Sjerre
Sunday, 17 July 2022

Ava Oakwell, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Spiritus, SP — Phanama's Foreign Minister talks about neutrality, cooperation with other countries, and how these fit in with joining the World Forum.

Phanama Now: Good evening, Minister Oakwell. We are here to discuss international affairs and Phanama’s foreign policy. Where does Phanama stand during the current period of political instability in the region?

Foreign Minister Ava Oakwell: We are not taking sides but are continuing to advocate for diplomacy to find peaceful resolutions to the conflicts.

PN: During the so-called ‘neutrality referendums’ last November, people showed considerable opposition to permanent neutrality. Why is Phanama maintaining its neutral stance?

AO: Phanama’s foreign policy has always been centred around neutrality, but we are maintaining this position mainly because there is still support for it. Opinion polls show that about 60% of Phanamans are in favour of keeping neutrality as a default, but would like Phanama’s stance in conflicts to be determined on a case-by-case basis. And this has given us the confidence to continue pursuing neutrality.

PN: There has also been significant support for Phanaman World Forum membership, with a popular initiative on the subject steadily gaining signatures. Why isn’t Phanama a member of the WF?

AO: There is a debate on the matter in the National Assembly, but it is still young so a conclusion has not been reached. The main argument against membership is that Phanama cannot be neutral as a member of the World Forum, due to the measures the organisation can take against member nations. Proponents of membership argue that WF measures are international law, so adopting them does not mean siding with or against anyone. And others reiterate that there is no longer a need for us to worry about neutrality, so it should not be a deciding factor. But ultimately, it will be up to Phanama’s voters to make the final decision, whether it is as a result of a bill or a popular initiative.

PN: What are your thoughts on Phanama joining the WF?

AO: I think it would help Phanama develop more of a voice in the international community, further enriching the decision-making process in the WF by bringing our perspectives to the table. WF membership would also enable us to cooperate more with other nations on issues that we cannot tackle individually, and therefore deal with them more effectively.

PN: Is cooperation with other countries, and pursuing deeper ties with them, something that has high priority on your agenda?

AO: Certainly. Phanama has generally had cordial relations with the world, but they have been a bit shallow. We have tried to change that: from ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to the recent trade deals with the Sunrise Triad, we are trying to work with other countries so that we can make Pacifica a better place.

PN: Which countries would you like to see Phanama cooperate with more?

AO: There is no list necessarily, but I think it would be nice to get closer to our neighbours here on Crabry, and nations with which we share values like liberty, social justice, democracy, and diplomacy over war.

PN: Your current term in office ends in about a year. Will Phanama’s foreign policy change during that time?

AO: It will remain more or less the same, but we will try to be a more active player on the international stage, offering mediation during conflicts instead of simply urging peace while standing on the sidelines. Though we will continue pursuing neutrality, we will start championing certain issues, such as the protection of human rights, more loudly than we have in the past. We cannot be quiet about such matters, and without a constitutional mandate to uphold neutrality at all times, we have no excuse.

PN: Thank you, Minister Oakwell, for this interview.

AO: Thank you for having me.

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