Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI Meeting
Joint Press Statement (06/08)
New RAMSI Ministerial Committee Holds Successful Talks in Honiara
The new Forum RAMSI Ministerial Standing Committee held its inaugural meeting on the future of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in Honiara today.
The Ministerial Committee is made up of the Foreign Ministers of the past, present and future chairs of the Pacific Islands Forum plus Solomon Islands and Australia.
Today’s meeting was chaired by the Honourable Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau Tupou, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tonga.
The Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Niue, the Hon Vivian Young, and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Australia (Hon Stephen Smith), Papua New Guinea (Hon Samuel Tei Abal), Solomon Islands (Hon William Haomae) and Tonga (Hon Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau Tupou) participated in the first Ministerial meeting.
Mr Smith was accompanied by the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Duncan Kerr SC and the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, the Hon Bob McMullan.
The Ministerial meeting marked the beginning of a new partnership between RAMSI and the Solomon Islands, and looked to the future.
The Honourable Dr Derek Sikua, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, opened the meeting: “We are keen and committed to work with you through dialogue and consultation mutual respect and understanding,” he said.
In an outcome statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting the significant progress made by Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in partnership with successive Solomon Islands Governments since 2003 was commended as an outstanding example of regional cooperation under the Biketawa Declaration.
“Ministers noted the importance of ongoing work with the Government and people of Solomon Islands to rebuild Solomon Islands’ institutions and establish conditions under which Solomon Islands could achieve social and economic recovery,” the statement said.
Other issues discussed included the development of a new partnership framework which aligns RAMSI planning with the policies of the Coalition of National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA) Government, a report on RAMSI’s current activities under its three pillars, the Solomon Islands Government position on the Report of the Forum Review Taskforce and this week’s officials-level Enhanced Consultative Mechanism meeting on RAMSI.
The Ministers noted the decision by Leaders at the 38th Pacific Islands Forum in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, that urgent consultations should be pursued through the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee with the Government of Solomon Islands to seek clarification of its concerns with respect to the specific recommendations of the (RAMSI Review) Task Force, and that the Standing Committee report to Leaders at the earliest opportunity.
“The Ministers noted that the circumstances in Solomon Islands at the time of the Leaders’ Meeting had since changed, and welcomed the new and positive attitude in which the FMSC was conducted,” the statement said.
Following a report from the taskforce member, Kaliopate Tavola, the ministers noted that progress had already been made toward implementing the Task Force recommendations and welcomed the Solomon Islands Government’s support for these steps.
Ministers noted the Report has been acknowledged by the Solomon Islands Cabinet and is to be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee for further consideration.
Ministers also noted the Solomon Islands Cabinet had rescinded the previous Solomon Islands Government’s rejection of the report, and looked forward to the new Solomon Islands Government convening the Parliamentary Select Committee as soon as possible.
In the interim, Ministers agreed that the Triumvirate comprising the Special Coordinator of RAMSI, the SIG Special Envoy to RAMSI and PIF Representative to the Solomon Islands, will continue working with the Solomon Islands Government to ensure momentum is maintained in the partnership.
In particular the Ministers directed the Triumvirate to provide the Solomon Islands Cabinet with monthly briefings through the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
The meeting was also attended by the RAMSI Special Coordinator, Tim George, the Solomon Islands Government Special Envoy to RAMSI, Michael Maina and the Pacific Islands Forum Representative to Solomon Islands, Lesi Korovavala.
It was agreed to reconvene the next FMSC before the end of 2008.
For further comment please contact: RAMSI Special Envoy, Michael Maina, ( 677) 94015,
mmaina@solomon.com.sb
New RAMSI Ministerial Committee Holds Successful Talks in Honiara
The new Forum RAMSI Ministerial Standing Committee held its inaugural meeting on the future of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in Honiara today.
The Ministerial Committee is made up of the Foreign Ministers of the past, present and future chairs of the Pacific Islands Forum plus Solomon Islands and Australia.
Today’s meeting was chaired by the Honourable Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau Tupou, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tonga.
The Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Niue, the Hon Vivian Young, and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Australia (Hon Stephen Smith), Papua New Guinea (Hon Samuel Tei Abal), Solomon Islands (Hon William Haomae) and Tonga (Hon Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau Tupou) participated in the first Ministerial meeting.
Mr Smith was accompanied by the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Duncan Kerr SC and the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, the Hon Bob McMullan.
The Ministerial meeting marked the beginning of a new partnership between RAMSI and the Solomon Islands, and looked to the future.
The Honourable Dr Derek Sikua, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, opened the meeting: “We are keen and committed to work with you through dialogue and consultation mutual respect and understanding,” he said.
In an outcome statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting the significant progress made by Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in partnership with successive Solomon Islands Governments since 2003 was commended as an outstanding example of regional cooperation under the Biketawa Declaration.
“Ministers noted the importance of ongoing work with the Government and people of Solomon Islands to rebuild Solomon Islands’ institutions and establish conditions under which Solomon Islands could achieve social and economic recovery,” the statement said.
Other issues discussed included the development of a new partnership framework which aligns RAMSI planning with the policies of the Coalition of National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA) Government, a report on RAMSI’s current activities under its three pillars, the Solomon Islands Government position on the Report of the Forum Review Taskforce and this week’s officials-level Enhanced Consultative Mechanism meeting on RAMSI.
The Ministers noted the decision by Leaders at the 38th Pacific Islands Forum in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, that urgent consultations should be pursued through the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee with the Government of Solomon Islands to seek clarification of its concerns with respect to the specific recommendations of the (RAMSI Review) Task Force, and that the Standing Committee report to Leaders at the earliest opportunity.
“The Ministers noted that the circumstances in Solomon Islands at the time of the Leaders’ Meeting had since changed, and welcomed the new and positive attitude in which the FMSC was conducted,” the statement said.
Following a report from the taskforce member, Kaliopate Tavola, the ministers noted that progress had already been made toward implementing the Task Force recommendations and welcomed the Solomon Islands Government’s support for these steps.
Ministers noted the Report has been acknowledged by the Solomon Islands Cabinet and is to be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee for further consideration.
Ministers also noted the Solomon Islands Cabinet had rescinded the previous Solomon Islands Government’s rejection of the report, and looked forward to the new Solomon Islands Government convening the Parliamentary Select Committee as soon as possible.
In the interim, Ministers agreed that the Triumvirate comprising the Special Coordinator of RAMSI, the SIG Special Envoy to RAMSI and PIF Representative to the Solomon Islands, will continue working with the Solomon Islands Government to ensure momentum is maintained in the partnership.
In particular the Ministers directed the Triumvirate to provide the Solomon Islands Cabinet with monthly briefings through the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
The meeting was also attended by the RAMSI Special Coordinator, Tim George, the Solomon Islands Government Special Envoy to RAMSI, Michael Maina and the Pacific Islands Forum Representative to Solomon Islands, Lesi Korovavala.
It was agreed to reconvene the next FMSC before the end of 2008.
For further comment please contact: RAMSI Special Envoy, Michael Maina, ( 677) 94015,
mmaina@solomon.com.sb
