World Assembly HQ – The Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly, Dr. Christian Ferguson, yesterday refused to comment on rumours that he and the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrew Silk, have had a series of arguments over policy in the international body. Ferguson, who is Sanctaria’s most prolific and able Ambassador to date, told reporters “no comment” when asked whether or not he and Silk have a fractious relationship.
Senior aides to the new Secretary have disclosed that Silk is unhappy with Ferguson’s lack of participation in the Security Council wing of the World Assembly, and that efforts to encourage the Ambassador to attend debates in that chamber have been met with cold, and sometimes hostile, resistance. One aide is quoted as saying that “he [Ferguson] refuses to take calls from the Secretary’s office” while it is also said that the Ambassador sends office clerks in his place to meetings with Silk. The aides refused to comment on what exactly caused this serious rift between the two men.
Ferguson has rarely attended meetings in the Security Council and has been quoted as saying the younger chamber is nothing other than an “expensive talking-shop”. This view is consistent with Ferguson’s predecessors in the, now defunct, role of Minister for the World Assembly. One previous occupant, now Secretary for Home Affairs, Justice & Equality Dr. George Merlinson, refused point blank to even acknowledge the Security Council and it is widely believed that he was instrumental in convincing the former Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Robert Smyth, to follow a policy of non-attendance.
Although Ferguson, as an Ambassador, is junior to Secretary Silk in the Department, he is already an influential figure and foreign policy expert whereas Silk has only been in the role for a number of months. Ferguson has also previously worked closely with Prime Minister Turner and, as a result, it is unlikely that he will be punished should he continue to refuse to participate in the Security Council.
Sources close to the Ambassador say that while there have been serious discussions over their divergent views on the Security Council, it’s likely that Ferguson, who is notoriously stubborn, will prevail and his favoured policy of non-attendance will continue.
KIM TOWERS, World Assembly Correspondent
