Human rights issues, democracy, the environment and health issues underpin the common links between Seychelles and the Czech Republic, the outgoing Czech ambassador said.

Karel Hejč made a farewell visit to President Danny Faure at State House, Victoria, on Tuesday.

The departing Czech ambassador, who has been based in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, said that what he has achieved “is to promote and expand our relations on the cooperation in the sector of health.”

“That includes the work on a memorandum of understanding being discussed between our two ministries of health, as well as having had many Seychellois students graduated from medical schools in the Czech Republic,” said Hejč.

Talking about health issues in Seychelles, Hejč referred to obesity and drug abuse, two phenomena that he said are affecting the country greatly.

Hejč said that during his term he promoted the protection of the environment and area he noted Seychelles has a lot to offer to visitors. (Mervyn Marie) Photo License: CC-BY

“When it comes to drug abuse, it can easily affect the tourism industry which is so crucial for Seychelles. In order to preserve the economic stability of Seychelles, we need to address this phenomenon because where there is drug abuse, there is criminality and where there is criminality there is a significant decrease in tourism,” he said.

Tourism is the top contributor to the economy of Seychelles -- a 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean

Hejč, who presented his credentials to former President James Michel in 2014, said that during his term he promoted the protection of the environment and area he noted Seychelles has a lot to offer to visitors.

“We do not have much in common but I am happy that I could contribute to the promotion of what we do have in common and that is the importance of environment, health issues and also the promotion of democracy and human rights,” said the outgoing ambassador.

Relations between the Czech Republic date back to 1993. Hejč was the sixth Czech ambassador to the island nation.