Foreign relations of Dominica

Like its Eastern Caribbean neighbors, the main priority of Dominica's foreign relations is economic development. The country maintains missions in Washington, New York, London, and Brussels and is represented jointly with other Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) members in Canada. Dominica is also a member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Commonwealth of Nations. It became a member of the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1978 and of the World Bank and Organization of American States (OAS) in 1979.

As a member of CARICOM, in July 1994 Dominica strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 940, designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power. The country agreed to contribute personnel to the multinational force, which restored the democratically elected government of Haiti in October 1994.

In May 1997, Prime Minister James joined 14 other Caribbean leaders, and President Clinton, during the first-ever U.S.-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counternarcotics issues, finance and development, and trade. Dominica previously maintained official relations with the Republic of China (commonly known as "Taiwan") instead of the People's Republic of China, but on 23 March 2004, a joint communique was signed in Beijing, paving the way for diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic. Beijing responded to Dominica's severing relations with the Republic of China by giving them a $12 million aid package, which includes $6 million in budget support for the year 2004 and $1 million annually for six years.

Dominica is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

International disputes

Dominica claims Venezuelan controlled Isla Aves.^[1]

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal relations began	Notes
Armenia		No diplomatic relations were established yet with Armenia.[2]
Australia		Australia is represented in Dominica through its High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago.[3]
Canada	1979	Bilateral relations are described as "close and friendly."[4] Canada is represented in Dominica, through its high commission in Barbados.[4]
Colombia	1980[5]	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 December 1980. Colombia is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Kingstown, Jamaica.[6]
Croatia	2013[7]	Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Commonwealth of Dominica was signed on the 30 July 2013.[7]
People's Republic of China	2004[8]	Diplomatic relations were established on 31 March 2004, when Dominica suspended ties with the Republic of China.[9]
Cuba	1996	In December 2005, during the second CARICOM/CUBA summit held in Barbados, heads of CARICOM and Cuba agreed to deepen their ties in the areas of socio-economic and political cooperation in addition to medical care assistance. Since the meeting, Cuba has opened four additional embassies in the Caribbean Community including Dominica.[10]
Cyprus	2001[11]	Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. A Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Commonwealth of Dominica was signed on the 13 June 2001 in New York[11]
Denmark	1985	Denmark is represented in Dominica, through its embassy in Mexico.[12]
Finland	2009[13]	Finland recognised Dominica on 23 February 1979. Diplomatic relations were established on 19 August 2009.[13]
France	1980	France is represented in Dominica, through its embassy in Saint Lucia. Dominica and France have signed many bilateral agreements.[14]
Germany		Political and economic relations are friendly but fairly low-key.[15]
Greece	2005[16]	Diplomatic relations were established on 15 November 2005. Greece is represented in Dominica via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Caracas. Dominica has appointed an ambassador accredited to Greece, based in Roseau, Dominica.[16]
Guyana		Guyana has a High Commission in Roseau.[17]
Indonesia		Indonesia is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela[18]
Japan	1978[19]	Diplomatic relations were established in December 1978.[19] Japan is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Trinidad and Tobago .[20]
North Korea	1978	Since November 1978, the bilateral relations have been cordial and fruitful.[21]
Latvia	2007[22]	Diplomatic relations were established on 27 September 2007 in New York.[22]
Lithuania	2013[23]	Diplomatic relations were established on 7 October 2013.[23]
Malta	2005[24]	Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Diplomatic relations were established on 11 February 2005 in New York.[24]
Mongolia	2011[25]	Diplomatic relations were established on 18 November 2011.[25]
Pakistan
Palestine	2011	Dominica recognised the State of Palestine and established diplomatic relations on 14 September 2011.[26][27][28][29]
South Korea	1978	Since November 1978, the bilateral relations have been cordial and fruitful.[30]
Romania	2009[31]	Diplomatic relations were established on 30 January 2009.[31]
South Africa	1998[32]	Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Diplomatic relations were established on 29 April 1998.[32]
Sweden	1978	Sweden has an honorary consulate in Roseau.[33]
Switzerland	1988[34]	Diplomatic and economic relations between Switzerland and Dominica are of minor importance.[34]
Turkey	2006[35]	Diplomatic relations were established on April 2006 in New York.[35]
United Arab Emirates	2014	Diplomatic relations between Dominica and the UAE were established on 21 December 2014.[36]
United Kingdom	1979	On 3 November 1978, Dominica received independence from the United Kingdom.
United States	1979	The United States and Dominica have friendly relations. United States supports the Dominican government's efforts to expand its economic base and to provide a higher standard of living for its citizens. U.S. assistance is primarily channeled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as through the U.S. Agency for International Development office in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Venezuela	1979	President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez visited Dominica in 2007.[37] Dominica claims Venezuelan island Isla Aves.

Dominica and the Commonwealth of Nations

Dominica has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1978, when it became an independent Commonwealth republic.

Dominica's highest court of appeal is the Caribbean Court of Justice, in effect from 6 March 2015. Previously, the nation's ultimate court of appeal was London's Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.^[38]

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Dominica
• List of diplomatic missions of Dominica
• Dominica – United States relations
• Dominica–France Maritime Delimitation Agreement

References

1. Island talk for Caricom, Venezuela
2. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Armenia".
3. "Department of Foreign Affairs of Australia".
4. Canada - Dominica relations
5. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia (in Spanish only)".
6. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia (in Spanish only)".
7. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Croatia".
8. "Dominica's Diplomatic Relations.doc". Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
9. Timeline: Dominica BBC NEWS
10. Caribbean Net News: Cuba opens more Caribbean embassies Archived 11 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
11. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Cyprus" (PDF).
12. "Dominica". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
13. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Finland".
14. Bilateral relations between Dominica France (French)
15. "Federal Foreign Office of Germany".
16. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Greece".
17. Guyana's Diplomatic & Consular Representatives
18. "Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia".
19. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Japan".
20. http://www.tt.emb-japan.go.jp/about%20us.htm
21. http://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%EB%B6%81%ED%95%9C+%EB%8F%84%EB%AF%B8%EB%8B%88%EC%B9%B4+%EC%88%98%EA%B5%90&sm=top_hty&fbm=0&ie=utf8
22. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Latvia".
23. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Lithuania".
24. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Malta".
25. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Mongolia".
26. Negotiations Affairs Department (25 September 2011). "International recognition of the State of Palestine". Palestinian National Authority. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
27. Negotiations Affairs Department (26 September 2011). "International recognition of the State of Palestine". Palestinian National Authority. Retrieved 7 April 2012.: "128 UN Member States recognize Palestine"
28. "Dominica supports upgraded UN status for Palestinian Authority". Dominica News Online. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
29. Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (10 September 2011). "Comunicado especial sobre Palestina" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2011-09-17.
30. Korean Government Continues To Support Dominica As Protocol Vehicle Is Handed To Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
31. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Romania".
32. "Department of International Cooperation of South Africa".
33. "Dominica - Office of Swedish Ambassadors Stationed in Stockholm (KSS)". Archived from the original on 2012-10-01.
34. "Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland".
35. "Ministry Foreign Affairs of Turkey".
36. "UAE, Commonwealth of Dominica sign Joint Communique on Establishing Diplomatic Relations".
37. President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela Pays Historic Visit to Dominica
38. "Dominica fully joins Caribbean Court of Justice". Jamaica Observer. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2016.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).

External links

• The United States Department of State - The Commonwealth of Dominica