Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI to work on Partnership Framework
PRESS STATEMENT (64/08)
17th July 2008
FORUM MINISTERIAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON RAMSI SETS UP OFFICIALS WORKING GROUP TO COMPLETE PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK
The Forum Ministerial Standing Committee (FMSC) on the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has agreed to set up a working group of officials representing the Solomon Islands Government, RAMSI and the Pacific Islands Forum to complete work on a proposed Partnership Framework.
During its first meeting in February this year, the FMSC endorsed the work being carried out to develop the proposed Partnership Framework between the Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI.
The aim of the proposed Partnership Framework is to provide formal direction and articulation of the Solomon Islands Government – RAMSI partnership for the development of Solomon Islands. The Partnership Agreement should include agreed objectives for the operations of RAMSI.
At the second meeting of the FMSC in Honiara today, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Hon. Stephen Smith, Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. William Haomae, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Tonga, Hon. Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau, the Associated Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niue, Hon. Billy Talagi and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Papua New Guinea, Hon. Sali Subam agreed that the Partnership Framework was a living document and would evolve over time under the guidance of the Committee.
The Ministers agreed that an officials’ level working group be established to complete the content of the Framework. This would include clarifying which programmes outlined in the Framework fell within the current mandate of RAMSI, which ones would need to be further discussed, and which programmes would need to be either implemented through bilateral arrangements and through a change to RAMSI’s mandate.
The FMSC reaffirmed that any proposed changes to the mandate of RAMSI would require a decision from Forum Leaders. The Ministers agreed that officials should report back to the Committee through the Enhanced Consultative Mechanism at its next meeting with an agreed Partnership Framework which addressed the concerns of all stakeholders.
During today’s meeting, Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Haomae informed the Committee that the Solomon Islands Government has appointed officials to analyse and provide a report to Cabinet on the RAMSI Review Task Force Report. The outcome of the review will be announced at the Forum Leaders meeting in Niue next month. Solomon Islands National Parliament meeting this month will also be deliberating on mechanisms to review RAMSI to ensure that future RAMSI activities were consistent with the evolving SIG-RAMSI Partnership Framework.
Ministers agreed that, consistent with the recommendations of the RAMSI Review Task Force Report, if any changes to the Facilitation of International Assistance Act 2003 were to be made, that this should occur only after extensive consultations with all RAMSI participating countries.
The FMSC also heard that the Australian Government is currently considering resource requirements for its future contribution to RAMSI beyond June 2009. It is preparing a four-year strategy for the period July 2009 to June 2013 to be in line with the Australian Government budget rules and procedures.
Ministers welcomed Japan’s interest in closer cooperation in the Pacific and noted that it had expressed an interest in cooperating with RAMSI. Ministers noted that RAMSI is a Pacific Islands Forum initiative and is principally constituted from Pacific Islands Forum personnel. Ministers further agreed that the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum should first consult with member countries, second, seek clarification from the Government of Japan on their proposed form of assistance, and third refer the matter back to the FMSC for further deliberation.
The second meeting of the FMSC commended the significant progress made by RAMSI in partnership with successive Solomon Islands Governments since 2003, and in particular the positive direction in which RAMSI was moving in partnership with the current government. It encouraged Forum members and the region’s development partners to assist rebuild Solomon Islands’ institutions and establish conditions under which the country could achieve social and economic recovery.
Ministers also expressed appreciation and thanked Mr Greg Urwin for his firm but subtle stewardship of the regional agenda during his time as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, and in particular his role in providing strategic oversight of RAMSI. Ministers also wished him a speedy recovery
The next meeting of the FMSC will be held in six months.
ENDS.
17th July 2008
FORUM MINISTERIAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON RAMSI SETS UP OFFICIALS WORKING GROUP TO COMPLETE PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK
The Forum Ministerial Standing Committee (FMSC) on the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has agreed to set up a working group of officials representing the Solomon Islands Government, RAMSI and the Pacific Islands Forum to complete work on a proposed Partnership Framework.
During its first meeting in February this year, the FMSC endorsed the work being carried out to develop the proposed Partnership Framework between the Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI.
The aim of the proposed Partnership Framework is to provide formal direction and articulation of the Solomon Islands Government – RAMSI partnership for the development of Solomon Islands. The Partnership Agreement should include agreed objectives for the operations of RAMSI.
At the second meeting of the FMSC in Honiara today, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Hon. Stephen Smith, Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. William Haomae, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Tonga, Hon. Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau, the Associated Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niue, Hon. Billy Talagi and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Papua New Guinea, Hon. Sali Subam agreed that the Partnership Framework was a living document and would evolve over time under the guidance of the Committee.
The Ministers agreed that an officials’ level working group be established to complete the content of the Framework. This would include clarifying which programmes outlined in the Framework fell within the current mandate of RAMSI, which ones would need to be further discussed, and which programmes would need to be either implemented through bilateral arrangements and through a change to RAMSI’s mandate.
The FMSC reaffirmed that any proposed changes to the mandate of RAMSI would require a decision from Forum Leaders. The Ministers agreed that officials should report back to the Committee through the Enhanced Consultative Mechanism at its next meeting with an agreed Partnership Framework which addressed the concerns of all stakeholders.
During today’s meeting, Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Haomae informed the Committee that the Solomon Islands Government has appointed officials to analyse and provide a report to Cabinet on the RAMSI Review Task Force Report. The outcome of the review will be announced at the Forum Leaders meeting in Niue next month. Solomon Islands National Parliament meeting this month will also be deliberating on mechanisms to review RAMSI to ensure that future RAMSI activities were consistent with the evolving SIG-RAMSI Partnership Framework.
Ministers agreed that, consistent with the recommendations of the RAMSI Review Task Force Report, if any changes to the Facilitation of International Assistance Act 2003 were to be made, that this should occur only after extensive consultations with all RAMSI participating countries.
The FMSC also heard that the Australian Government is currently considering resource requirements for its future contribution to RAMSI beyond June 2009. It is preparing a four-year strategy for the period July 2009 to June 2013 to be in line with the Australian Government budget rules and procedures.
Ministers welcomed Japan’s interest in closer cooperation in the Pacific and noted that it had expressed an interest in cooperating with RAMSI. Ministers noted that RAMSI is a Pacific Islands Forum initiative and is principally constituted from Pacific Islands Forum personnel. Ministers further agreed that the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum should first consult with member countries, second, seek clarification from the Government of Japan on their proposed form of assistance, and third refer the matter back to the FMSC for further deliberation.
The second meeting of the FMSC commended the significant progress made by RAMSI in partnership with successive Solomon Islands Governments since 2003, and in particular the positive direction in which RAMSI was moving in partnership with the current government. It encouraged Forum members and the region’s development partners to assist rebuild Solomon Islands’ institutions and establish conditions under which the country could achieve social and economic recovery.
Ministers also expressed appreciation and thanked Mr Greg Urwin for his firm but subtle stewardship of the regional agenda during his time as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, and in particular his role in providing strategic oversight of RAMSI. Ministers also wished him a speedy recovery
The next meeting of the FMSC will be held in six months.
ENDS.
