The first High Commissioner of Botswana to Seychelles, H.E. Mr. John Moreti presented his credentials to President James Michel, at State House this morning.

President Michel congratulated High Commissioner Moreti on his new position and expressed the hope that Seychelles and Botswana reinforce the excellent relations that already exist between the two countries and explore new avenues for cooperation.

The President and High Commissioner Moreti discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including areas where Seychelles and Botswana can learn and share experiences from each other.

Speaking to the local media after the accreditation ceremony, High Commissioner Moreti has described the relations between Botswana and Seychelles as 'friendly’; a platform that he said both countries should build on to enhance cooperation in such fields as environment, tourism, culture  as well as education.

When asked about the call by President Michel for more cooperation between the African countries within the African Union (AU), he emphasized that the good relations that exist between Seychelles and Botswana on the international level, consolidated by both countries being members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the AU, “made us natural partners”.

“Botswana and Seychelles are SADC countries; we already have the platform of SADC to steer, so to speak, any matters that would come into the continental agenda of the AU. Seychelles and Botswana hold views and principles in common and by the time we reach the AU, then such issues as democracy, respect for human rights, sanctity of life and the need to push the continental integration agenda in ways that really benefit the people we all represent are some of the values that we shall advance and I believe Seychelles shares the same,” he said.

High Commissioner Moreti  is based in Pretoria, South Africa.