PIF plenary with Post Forum Dialogue Partners
PRESS STATEMENT (223/07)
18th October 2007
PACIFIC ISLAND FORUM MEMBERS HOLD PLENARY SESSION WITH POST FORUM PARTNERS
Members of the Pacific Islands Forum today concluded the first ever plenary session with their 14 Post Forum Dialogue (PFD) Partners in Nuku’alofa, the Kingdom of Tonga following the conclusion of the 38th Leaders Summit.
As agreed to by Forum Leaders at their meeting last year, this year has seen the introduction of a new PFD process. For this year, and subsequent years, the PFD has been held in the form of a plenary, in lieu of the previous practice where PFD Partners held individual dialogues with the Forum. It is expected that the Plenary will be held at Leader and Ministerial level if at all possible. This should ensure that this political dialogue is held at a level which will help to shape policies in respect of the region.
The new Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele briefed the Post Forum Dialogue Partners Plenary Session on the 38th Forum decisions as contained in the Communique issued after the retreat in the northern island of Vava’u yesterday.
During the meeting several Pacific Forum Leaders addressed the PFD Partners on priority issues for the region. The President of Nauru, H.E Ludwig Scotty delivered a statement on Climate Change, Rt.Hon. Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand made a statement on Energy, Hon. Patteson Oti, Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Immigration delivered a statement on Fisheries, a statement on Tourism was delivered by the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea, Hon. Samuel Abal addressed the plenary on the issue of Health.
“As a region we welcome the positive responses and understanding of the PFD Partners to the statements made on the priority issues addressed by our membership. This new process will have to be developed further as we go along but from the early response received during this first plenary session, we are really encouraged that the new process will work to further nurture the special relationship we have with our Partners,” Dr Sevele said.
The Post Forum Dialogue Partners welcomed the new process of engaging with the Pacific Islands Forum as a region and indicated their support in developing it further including through strengthened bilateral consultations with the Forum.
ENDS.
18th October 2007
PACIFIC ISLAND FORUM MEMBERS HOLD PLENARY SESSION WITH POST FORUM PARTNERS
Members of the Pacific Islands Forum today concluded the first ever plenary session with their 14 Post Forum Dialogue (PFD) Partners in Nuku’alofa, the Kingdom of Tonga following the conclusion of the 38th Leaders Summit.
As agreed to by Forum Leaders at their meeting last year, this year has seen the introduction of a new PFD process. For this year, and subsequent years, the PFD has been held in the form of a plenary, in lieu of the previous practice where PFD Partners held individual dialogues with the Forum. It is expected that the Plenary will be held at Leader and Ministerial level if at all possible. This should ensure that this political dialogue is held at a level which will help to shape policies in respect of the region.
The new Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele briefed the Post Forum Dialogue Partners Plenary Session on the 38th Forum decisions as contained in the Communique issued after the retreat in the northern island of Vava’u yesterday.
During the meeting several Pacific Forum Leaders addressed the PFD Partners on priority issues for the region. The President of Nauru, H.E Ludwig Scotty delivered a statement on Climate Change, Rt.Hon. Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand made a statement on Energy, Hon. Patteson Oti, Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Immigration delivered a statement on Fisheries, a statement on Tourism was delivered by the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea, Hon. Samuel Abal addressed the plenary on the issue of Health.
“As a region we welcome the positive responses and understanding of the PFD Partners to the statements made on the priority issues addressed by our membership. This new process will have to be developed further as we go along but from the early response received during this first plenary session, we are really encouraged that the new process will work to further nurture the special relationship we have with our Partners,” Dr Sevele said.
The Post Forum Dialogue Partners welcomed the new process of engaging with the Pacific Islands Forum as a region and indicated their support in developing it further including through strengthened bilateral consultations with the Forum.
ENDS.
