Statement by SG Slade at opening of 40th PIF
40th PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM LEADERS MEETING
CAIRNS CONVENTION CENTRE
CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA
4 – 7 AUGUST 2009
STATEMENT BY FORUM SECRETARIAT SECRETARY GENERAL
MR. TUILOMA NERONI SLADE
The Honourable Prime Minister of Australia and incoming Forum Chair, Hon. Kevin Rudd,
Honourable Toke Talagi, Premier of Niue and outgoing Forum Chair,
Your Excellencies, Forum Leaders and their representatives,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With the acknowledgement of our respect to the traditional owners of this land, may I say that I am extremely honoured to present myself as Secretary General to Forum Leaders at this my first Pacific Islands Forum meeting.
In doing so, I express to the Government of Australia and to the people of Cairns warm and grateful appreciation for the kindness and welcome extended to us all, and for hosting this
Forum meeting in a setting so wonderfully Pacific in ambiance.
Prime Minister Rudd,
May I observe that you are about to receive the chairmanship of the Forum from very safe hands. The Honourable Toke Talagi has been the voice of authority in upholding Forum principles and ideals for the past 12 months. The region is grateful for his personal engagement and commitment, for his example, and for a quality of leadership that looks well beyond the immediate.
It has been a pleasure and an honour to be by his side.
Honourable Leaders,
We gather here in Cairns on the 38th year of our organisation’s life and, counting its special sessions, on this the 40th meeting of the Forum Leaders.
Rightfully, we can reflect on proud moments, some of monumental achievements, and of thresholds crossed; and we think of Leaders and Statesmen of the region who have gone before us.
While the changing and passing years have not left the Pacific untouched, what has not changed is the fundamental fragility of our region, the exposure of homelands and the vulnerability of communities.
The Pacific environment that Leaders knew 40 meetings ago is no longer the same, and global natural systems edge towards dangerous tipping points, seemingly by the day.
We are now in the grips of the most debilitating global financial and economic crisis. While its effects are still evolving, what is already clear is that not one single Pacific economy will be spared. Typically, it is the small and the least able to cope, that will register the most serious consequences.
And there is the compounding H1N1 pandemic.
Climate change is already taking its toll, at all levels of humanity, worldwide. In each Forum country Leaders will know of the alarm and damage being caused – right now, today.
The global science and basic economics, foretell far worse for tomorrow. Significantly, global assessments acknowledge, and keep acknowledging, the extreme exposure and special vulnerability of small islands developing States and their communities.
And so, Honourable Leaders, that is the context of your gathering: the real agenda of your 40th meeting.
These are the major issues of our time. They are challenges that come not in single file, and cannot be met by the response of one.
The experience of the Forum in your past 39 meetings, points to the inevitability of togetherness. The Pacific is at its best when it acts as a region. In times of crisis it is the natural way. It is the very essence of the Pacific Way.
This spirit of the region which informs the Pacific Plan adopted by Leaders at your 34th meeting in 2005, and this remains a guiding force in the work of the Secretariat and other regional agencies. The work of the Secretariat now encompasses the full range of political governance and security, trade and economic, and development coordination issues. In the face of the global economic crisis there is a declared determination on the part of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) to strengthen the coordination of our institutional activities in every way possible. I should like to acknowledge the presence of my fellow executives and heads of organisations who are in the hall.
While we hold dear and proud the culture and traditions of our region, we need to engage more actively and more effectively with all development partners. We confront the most serious global issues and we must continue to enhance the working effectiveness of our relationships with all development partners. I am happy and honoured to acknowledge their presence and representation at this meeting.
To the Honourable Prime Minister of Australia may I say that the Forum Secretariat keenly looks forward, as I do, to serve with you and to assist in every way possible.
I pledge to you our fullest support so that we can advance our Leaders’ vision for “a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free and worthwhile lives”.
Mr Prime Minister, there is a future for the Pacific, a future of infinite promise. I ask that you lead us there.
Thank You.
CAIRNS CONVENTION CENTRE
CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA
4 – 7 AUGUST 2009
STATEMENT BY FORUM SECRETARIAT SECRETARY GENERAL
MR. TUILOMA NERONI SLADE
The Honourable Prime Minister of Australia and incoming Forum Chair, Hon. Kevin Rudd,
Honourable Toke Talagi, Premier of Niue and outgoing Forum Chair,
Your Excellencies, Forum Leaders and their representatives,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With the acknowledgement of our respect to the traditional owners of this land, may I say that I am extremely honoured to present myself as Secretary General to Forum Leaders at this my first Pacific Islands Forum meeting.
In doing so, I express to the Government of Australia and to the people of Cairns warm and grateful appreciation for the kindness and welcome extended to us all, and for hosting this
Forum meeting in a setting so wonderfully Pacific in ambiance.
Prime Minister Rudd,
May I observe that you are about to receive the chairmanship of the Forum from very safe hands. The Honourable Toke Talagi has been the voice of authority in upholding Forum principles and ideals for the past 12 months. The region is grateful for his personal engagement and commitment, for his example, and for a quality of leadership that looks well beyond the immediate.
It has been a pleasure and an honour to be by his side.
Honourable Leaders,
We gather here in Cairns on the 38th year of our organisation’s life and, counting its special sessions, on this the 40th meeting of the Forum Leaders.
Rightfully, we can reflect on proud moments, some of monumental achievements, and of thresholds crossed; and we think of Leaders and Statesmen of the region who have gone before us.
While the changing and passing years have not left the Pacific untouched, what has not changed is the fundamental fragility of our region, the exposure of homelands and the vulnerability of communities.
The Pacific environment that Leaders knew 40 meetings ago is no longer the same, and global natural systems edge towards dangerous tipping points, seemingly by the day.
We are now in the grips of the most debilitating global financial and economic crisis. While its effects are still evolving, what is already clear is that not one single Pacific economy will be spared. Typically, it is the small and the least able to cope, that will register the most serious consequences.
And there is the compounding H1N1 pandemic.
Climate change is already taking its toll, at all levels of humanity, worldwide. In each Forum country Leaders will know of the alarm and damage being caused – right now, today.
The global science and basic economics, foretell far worse for tomorrow. Significantly, global assessments acknowledge, and keep acknowledging, the extreme exposure and special vulnerability of small islands developing States and their communities.
And so, Honourable Leaders, that is the context of your gathering: the real agenda of your 40th meeting.
These are the major issues of our time. They are challenges that come not in single file, and cannot be met by the response of one.
The experience of the Forum in your past 39 meetings, points to the inevitability of togetherness. The Pacific is at its best when it acts as a region. In times of crisis it is the natural way. It is the very essence of the Pacific Way.
This spirit of the region which informs the Pacific Plan adopted by Leaders at your 34th meeting in 2005, and this remains a guiding force in the work of the Secretariat and other regional agencies. The work of the Secretariat now encompasses the full range of political governance and security, trade and economic, and development coordination issues. In the face of the global economic crisis there is a declared determination on the part of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) to strengthen the coordination of our institutional activities in every way possible. I should like to acknowledge the presence of my fellow executives and heads of organisations who are in the hall.
While we hold dear and proud the culture and traditions of our region, we need to engage more actively and more effectively with all development partners. We confront the most serious global issues and we must continue to enhance the working effectiveness of our relationships with all development partners. I am happy and honoured to acknowledge their presence and representation at this meeting.
To the Honourable Prime Minister of Australia may I say that the Forum Secretariat keenly looks forward, as I do, to serve with you and to assist in every way possible.
I pledge to you our fullest support so that we can advance our Leaders’ vision for “a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free and worthwhile lives”.
Mr Prime Minister, there is a future for the Pacific, a future of infinite promise. I ask that you lead us there.
Thank You.
