SIGNATURE OF NEW FORUM AGREEMENT

The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Mr Greg Urwin, today welcomed the opening for signature of the new Agreement Establishing the Forum.

The Agreement was opened for signature at the Forum Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby and signed by the Leaders of thirteen Forum member countries.

The new Agreement is a fitting accompaniment to the Pacific Plan , said Mr Urwin. It enshrines in law what we have agreed as policy, and provides the legal basis we need to take the Forum forward into a focused and productive future together. 

The Secretary General welcomed Leaders' signature of the new Agreement as an historic step in the life of the Forum, and expressed his hope for its prompt ratification by members and entry into force.

Key features of the new Agreement include:
" Expanding the Forum's legal arrangements beyond the Secretariat, to clearly establish the Pacific Islands Forum as an intergovernmental organisation at international law;
" New and updated provisions relating to the Forum's structure, purpose and functions, consistent with the Pacific Plan;
" Provisions reflecting Leaders' decision to create a category of associate membership of the Forum.

Forum Secretariat, Port Moresby
27 October 2005

The Agreement was signed by Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The three remaining Forum members - New Zealand, Tonga and Tuvalu  have indicated their intention to sign the Agreement once their necessary domestic treaty processes are completed.