PRESS STATEMENT
65/06

Thursday, 5 October 2006

Forum Officials' Committee finalises agenda items for leaders

The two-day Forum Officials Committee pre-Forum session ended yesterday after considering agenda items to be discussed by Forum Leaders when they meet later this month in Nadi, Fiji.

The Committee also approved the Forum Secretariat's 2007-2009 Budget and Work Programme.

Officials discussed issues under the four pillars of the Pacific Plan, including:

- Trade;
- Infrastructure;
- Sustainable development;
- Disaster Management;
- Fisheries;
- Social development;
- Security; and
- Good Governance.

"Among the issues that will need the Leaders' guidance are the recommendations from a review report on the Regional Institutional Framework and the Post Forum Dialogue Partners process," says Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Secretary General, Mr Greg Urwin.

"Both of these reviews, and especially that on the Regional Framework, may have far-reaching implications for the way the region does its work in the future."

Mr Urwin adds: "Leaders will also receive the first Annual Report on the implementation of the Pacific Plan which includes some of the early achievements of the Plan and the challenges for the coming years."

A letter from the Chair of the Forum Officials Committee outlining the decisions made by the meeting will be sent to the incoming Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Honourable Laisenia Qarase, MP, Prime Minister of the Fiji Islands.

Ms Kim Hubert, Nauru's Assistant Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, chaired the Forum Officials Committee meeting.

(ENDS)