Martin: Ok, well I came here in October 2005. I am not really new to this region.  I have been in southern Africa, so I did have a good idea of what to expect. I knew I was coming to a country that was fairly sophisticated compared to some other parts of Africa and I was not disappointed when I arrived. What I found to be extremely helpful was that the officials in government with whom I had to work, were very capable and very much engaged in whatever matters needed their attention.

Mmegi: What were your experiences in society generally?

Martin: I think I found a fairly open society. People are very willing to engage with foreigners. Yes. Fairly positive experience.

Mmegi: Did Botswana's long diplomatic relations with your country influence the way you worked with government?

Martin: Many of the government practices are similar. The modus operandi is certainly resonant with how we do things in the UK. That historical influence. But this is not just true of Botswana. We have had colonial relationships with a number of countries in the region.

Mmegi: What were your priorities when you got here?

Martin: My first priority was to establish myself. To develop relations with the government of Botswana. To establish working relations with some key individuals. To make sure that our bilateral relations with Botswana blossoms. And obviously to avoid any potential pitfalls.

Mmegi: You have with two Foreign Ministers in Botswana - Mompati Merafhe and the current one Phandu Skelemani. Did you find any difference between the way Merafhe worked, because he had been in that position for quite a while, and the way Skelemani does things?

Martin: I think at one point, Merafhe was Africa's longest serving Foreign Minister. So he was well experienced. He possessed a wealth of knowledge on issues, African continental issues. But I have to say that the transition to Skelemani has been seamless. Skelemani himself comes with a lot of experience. And he has been useful in dealing with many continental issues.

In terms of continuity there has never been any changes really. I had very good working relations with Vice-President Merafhe, as then Foreign Minister, and I equally have very good working relationship with Skelemani.

Mmegi: The Botswana position on Zimbabwe was very similar to yours. A lot of people have said Botswana is much more outspoken on some of these issues than before. Do you thing Skelemani has brought this change?

Martin: I think in southern Africa, Botswana has been the most vocal country in terms of a democratic resolution to the Zimbabwean issue. I think that is very much the influence of the current President (Ian Khama). He has been much more clear about his commitment to democracy within Botswana and the region. It is very much part of that philosophy.

Mmegi: What do you think were the major areas that your mission was interested in?

Martin: Well, the priority of our mission is to maintain excellent relations with the government of Botswana. We approach that on many levels, in term of lobbying on many issues.

Mmegi: The influence that you had on Botswana seems to be waning with these new countries coming in. Do you see that as an obvious pattern that is developing?

Martin: I don't think I would use the term influence. Our relationship is not one of influence It is one of equality. We are equal partners. It is true that this High Commission is not as large as it used to be. But this has been largely due to the financial situation, not just with our government but with other governments as well.

Mmegi: Was it a purely financial issue rather than a re-organisation of priorities?

Martin: It is a matter of rebalancing for the limited funds available. You have to know that the Botswana mission was spared most of the effects of that rebalancing. You know, we had to close our mission in Lesotho. So that should give you an idea of the difficult decisions that we had to make.

Mmegi: Do you have to compete for attention with other countries? Rising powers and things like that? For example China is coming up and clearly becoming a major player in foreign relations in Africa and the world. Are all these part of the equation or the dynamic you had to contend with also?

Martin: International relations are not static. The world changes. But there is no rivalry if that is what you are trying to suggest.

Mmegi: But you do have to compete?

Martin: Any change reflects the realities of the time

Mmegi: Let us look at the role that your country plays on the world stage. Let us take Copenhagen (the climate change gathering due in December in the Danish capital). Some observers have said there will be no concrete agreement. What is your view?

Martin: I think it is important that when you go to a negotiation, you do not preempt the outcome. It is very difficult of course to get consensus on certain issues, like this. You never go into negotiations thinking they won't be successful. 

Mmegi: The international media has made a lot of noise on the gathering in Rome on food (Rome Food Security Summit held a week ago). They say you can tell this was not a top priority for the Western world because very few of their leaders appeared at the gathering. Were you satisfied with your country's input and the discussions?

Martin: Well, I am very much removed from the nitty-gritty of the negotiations that are taking place in Rome but food security remains critical, and that, combined with the effects of climate change causes us to think and work towards a global response. We are way past the point where we can think as rivals. We have to think as the international community, of a global response to these issues. You know that recently the floods we had reached up to 12 and half inches. They say a year's worth of rain fell in one day. So you can see that the effects of climate change reach every country. Developed countries are not immune from the effects of climate change. 

Mmegi: In the last three years there was this issue with diamonds and Survival International. And we saw later on with controversies surrounding journalists who were supposed to come being banned from entering the country. These were citizens of your country. Did you ever have any discussions on this matter with the Botswana government?

Martin: Yes, that issue did arise in the course of our conversations with the government of Botswana but we have to respect this country's sovereignty. It is a sovereign nation.We had conversations with the government but at the end of the day, Botswana is a sovereign state.

Mmegi: But what were your concerns?

Martin: Well, the discussion was confidential.

Mmegi: What do you think would be the priority issues that the next High Commissioner will have to look at?

Martin: I think the resolution of the issue in Zimbabwe. The election of a government that reflects the will of the people. And Botswana knows better than perhaps others the potential effects that the continuation of the problem may have. I think it has the potential to destabilise the region.

Mmegi: Are you satisfied with the mechanisms that have been put in place regionally to deal with the Zimbabwean issue? Do you have other ideas how it can be resolved?

Martin: Botswana has set a very good lead in terms of regional context, in how to approach the Zimbabwe problem. It is trying to influence others in southern Africa to do the same. The problem with Botswana is that it is such a small nation in SADC. The country which has been given the role of facilitator, I think is fair to say, should try a bit harder.

Mmegi: Your last words, sounds as if you are on your deathbed (laughs)

Martin: I loved being in Botswana. Marvelous. Over four years. This is my last diplomatic post. I am retiring. Having spent half of my life in Africa, I am now going.

Mmegi: It will be a culture shock

Martin: It will be a culture shock. I have been used to the skies and the sun.