Forum Assists SIS
PRESS STATEMENT 116/07
13th October 2007
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM ASSISTS SMALLER ISLAND STATES
The meeting of the Leaders of the Smaller Island States (SIS) within the Pacific Forum membership in Tonga next week is important because it is those countries with the fewest resources that have the most to gain from regional services.
The SIS includes Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Niue and the Cook Islands.
“We over the last year have placed a Forum Officer in each of these Smaller Island States. We think it is important to get resources out of the Forum Secretariat in Suva to the SIS and other member countries to make our services more directly relevant to their requirements,” says Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The Forum has also placed representatives in Solomon Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Resources permitting Forum representatives will also be placed soon in Tonga and Vanuatu.
“Hopefully there will come a time when we will have Forum representatives in all of the Pacific Island countries and that will stand to benefit every body,” Mr Urwin says.
Besides the SIS Leaders’ Meeting, Pacific ACP Leaders will also be meeting in Tonga on 15th October. This group includes all the Forum countries, without Australia and New Zealand.
The Pacific ACP Leaders will discuss an update of the negotiations with the European Union of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which are at a critical stage. The European Union recently offered to extend the period for the conclusion of the EPA from 31 December 2007 to the end of next year. If this proposal is finalised, it will give the region more time to ensure that its key requirements are addressed.
The 38th Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting will be held in Tonga 16th – 17th October.
ENDS.
For more information, contact Mr Johnson Honimae, Forum Media Officer on phone: 676 26119, 26128 or mobile 676 62544
13th October 2007
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM ASSISTS SMALLER ISLAND STATES
The meeting of the Leaders of the Smaller Island States (SIS) within the Pacific Forum membership in Tonga next week is important because it is those countries with the fewest resources that have the most to gain from regional services.
The SIS includes Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Niue and the Cook Islands.
“We over the last year have placed a Forum Officer in each of these Smaller Island States. We think it is important to get resources out of the Forum Secretariat in Suva to the SIS and other member countries to make our services more directly relevant to their requirements,” says Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The Forum has also placed representatives in Solomon Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Resources permitting Forum representatives will also be placed soon in Tonga and Vanuatu.
“Hopefully there will come a time when we will have Forum representatives in all of the Pacific Island countries and that will stand to benefit every body,” Mr Urwin says.
Besides the SIS Leaders’ Meeting, Pacific ACP Leaders will also be meeting in Tonga on 15th October. This group includes all the Forum countries, without Australia and New Zealand.
The Pacific ACP Leaders will discuss an update of the negotiations with the European Union of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which are at a critical stage. The European Union recently offered to extend the period for the conclusion of the EPA from 31 December 2007 to the end of next year. If this proposal is finalised, it will give the region more time to ensure that its key requirements are addressed.
The 38th Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting will be held in Tonga 16th – 17th October.
ENDS.
For more information, contact Mr Johnson Honimae, Forum Media Officer on phone: 676 26119, 26128 or mobile 676 62544
