The 38th meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) started in
Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on Tuesday, which is expected to focus on issues
like Fiji situation and review of regional cooperation.
During the two-day meeting, leaders or officials from the region
will review the progress of the Pacific Plan, a new vision for
closer regional cooperation and integration, and the Regional
Institutional Framework, which is the means in which various
regional organizations work with one another.
At the opening ceremony, Papua New Guiean Prime Minister Michael
Somare, who is the PIF's current interim chairman, spoke highly of
the Pacific Plan, saying it will help boost the regional
development and improve the well-being of the local peoples.
Meanwhile, he also called for respect of sovereignty and rights
of member countries in regional cooperation, reflecting some long-
time concerns from small countries with the role of Australia and
New Zealand in regional affairs.
Nearly one-third of the members' heads of state or government
are missing the forum for various reasons.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who has called for a
national election, has sent Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
instead, while the Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and
Tuvalu are also represented at lower level at the forum.
Solomon Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare boycotted the forum
over the issue of a regional assistance mission to the Solomon
Islands.
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) was
set up in 2003 to help the Solomon Islands' government restore law
and order, strengthen government institutions, reduce corruption
and reinvigorate the economy. But the Solomon Islands' government
has criticized the Australian-led mission for interference in
domestic affairs and is dissatisfied with a Forum review of the
mission.
Somare expressed appreciation over the contribution by forum
members to RAMSI and his hope that the forum will reach a good
understanding of the Solomons' issue and the future of RAMSI.
Among the leaders attending the forum is Fiji's military
government Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who took power in a coup
last December and evoked strong criticism from other forum members,
particularly Australian and New Zealand. He has said he is looking
forward to dialogs with other forum leaders.
Somare expressed the hope that "the leaders can work together to
find a way" on the Fiji issue.
The Pacific Islands Forum, founded in 1971, is an inter-
governmental organization which aims to enhance cooperation between
the states in the South Pacific represent their interests. It now
groups 16 nations, namely Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New
Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati,
Niue, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands,
Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2007)
