Solomon Islands Government committed to RAMSI
PRESS STATEMENT (63/08)
17th July 2008
SOLOMON ISLANDS COMMITTED TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH RAMSI AND PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
The Solomon Islands Government remains committed to working closely with RAMSI and the Pacific Islands Forum through dialogue and in a respectful consultative manner.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Derek Sikua reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to RAMSI when he opened the 2nd Meeting of the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee(FMSC) in Honiara, Solomon Islands this morning.
The meeting is attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Hon. Stephen Smith, Solomon Islands Ministers of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. William Haomae, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tonga, Hon. Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau, the Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs of Niue, Hon. Billy Talagi and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Papua New Guinea, Hon. Sali Subam. The Tongan Foreign Minister, Mr Taumoepeau is chairing the one-day meeting.
Prime Minister Mr Sikua told the meeting his government attaches a lot of importance to the Solomon Islands-RAMSI Partnership Framework which was called for by the FMSC during its first meeting in February this year.
“The Solomon Islands Government attaches a lot of importance to this Framework as it will define a new phase in our relationship. In his regard, my Cabinet has endorsed the framework prepared by our officials as the basis for negotiations or consultations with RAMSI and that the Forum Secretariat representative in Honiara oversee the negotiations,” says Mr Sikua.
He explains: “The Solomon Islands Government proposed Framework embraces the priority areas that are outlines in our policy, strategies and implementation documents as well as, in our Medium Term Development Strategy that we recently adopted. These areas are vital to our efforts to achieve rural advancement.”
Prime Minister Sikua said his Government understands that there are certain proposals in the proposed Framework that RAMSI may not be able to accommodate as they could fall outside its current mandate.
“In this regard, we are committed to working closely with the Forum and RAMSI to find the way forward. I am also confident that your meeting today will establish a suitable process to undertake further consultations with a view to adopting an agreed Partnership Framework Agreement by the end of this year.”
During his opening address, Prime Minister Sikua acknowledged the contributions and efforts of the outgoing Secretary General Secretary of the Forum Secretariat who had to resign from the post because of illness, towards the establishment of the Enhanced Consultative Mechanism on RAMSI and the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee.
The Forum Ministerial Standing Committee meeting is discussing among other issues the proposed Partnership Framework, an update on the implementation of the 2007 Forum RAMSI Review Taskforce Report and the Solomon Islands Government Review of RAMSI, as well as the Australian Government Review of Future Resource Requirements for RAMSI. Ministers will also discuss a proposal from Japan to cooperate with RAMSI.
The Meeting will end this afternoon with a press conference and the issuing of a media statement.
The next FMSC will be held before the end of the year.
ENDS.
17th July 2008
SOLOMON ISLANDS COMMITTED TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH RAMSI AND PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
The Solomon Islands Government remains committed to working closely with RAMSI and the Pacific Islands Forum through dialogue and in a respectful consultative manner.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Derek Sikua reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to RAMSI when he opened the 2nd Meeting of the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee(FMSC) in Honiara, Solomon Islands this morning.
The meeting is attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Hon. Stephen Smith, Solomon Islands Ministers of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. William Haomae, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tonga, Hon. Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau, the Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs of Niue, Hon. Billy Talagi and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Papua New Guinea, Hon. Sali Subam. The Tongan Foreign Minister, Mr Taumoepeau is chairing the one-day meeting.
Prime Minister Mr Sikua told the meeting his government attaches a lot of importance to the Solomon Islands-RAMSI Partnership Framework which was called for by the FMSC during its first meeting in February this year.
“The Solomon Islands Government attaches a lot of importance to this Framework as it will define a new phase in our relationship. In his regard, my Cabinet has endorsed the framework prepared by our officials as the basis for negotiations or consultations with RAMSI and that the Forum Secretariat representative in Honiara oversee the negotiations,” says Mr Sikua.
He explains: “The Solomon Islands Government proposed Framework embraces the priority areas that are outlines in our policy, strategies and implementation documents as well as, in our Medium Term Development Strategy that we recently adopted. These areas are vital to our efforts to achieve rural advancement.”
Prime Minister Sikua said his Government understands that there are certain proposals in the proposed Framework that RAMSI may not be able to accommodate as they could fall outside its current mandate.
“In this regard, we are committed to working closely with the Forum and RAMSI to find the way forward. I am also confident that your meeting today will establish a suitable process to undertake further consultations with a view to adopting an agreed Partnership Framework Agreement by the end of this year.”
During his opening address, Prime Minister Sikua acknowledged the contributions and efforts of the outgoing Secretary General Secretary of the Forum Secretariat who had to resign from the post because of illness, towards the establishment of the Enhanced Consultative Mechanism on RAMSI and the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee.
The Forum Ministerial Standing Committee meeting is discussing among other issues the proposed Partnership Framework, an update on the implementation of the 2007 Forum RAMSI Review Taskforce Report and the Solomon Islands Government Review of RAMSI, as well as the Australian Government Review of Future Resource Requirements for RAMSI. Ministers will also discuss a proposal from Japan to cooperate with RAMSI.
The Meeting will end this afternoon with a press conference and the issuing of a media statement.
The next FMSC will be held before the end of the year.
ENDS.
