Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says he is planning to attend both the 2015 United Nations Climate Change conference in France and 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Mediterranean state of Malta.
He revealed this in a meeting last Wednesday with the French Ambassador to Solomon Islands Pascal Maubert.
The meeting was requested by Ambassador to specifically to confirm the Prime Minister’s attendance of this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference and whether the new time schedule for the meeting- November 25 and 26- is convenient for him.
“If the conference has been rescheduled for the 25th and 26th of November from the original time-frame of November 30th to December 11th, it will not make any difference for us.
“The date change conveniently places the climate change conference ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting for this year which all heads of states (and governments), including me, are invited to. I’m planning to attend both meetings,” Prime Minister Sogavare told Ambassador Maubert.
The 2015 CHOGM is scheduled for the 27th to the 29th of November.
Prime Minister Sogavare said climate change remains a major challenge for small island states including Solomon Islands.
“Our message is very simple, “We have very little to do with greenhouse gas emissions and big countries, please reconsider lowering the rate of your greenhouse gas emissions.
The French ambassador also took the opportunity to inform the Prime Minister that at the end of this year the responsibility of issuing French visas for countries that wish to visit France and its territories will shift from the Embassy of France in Port Moresby to the Consular General of France in Sydney.
He also informed the Prime Minister that the Embassy of France in Port Moresby is planning for a goodwill visit of one or two French naval ships to Solomon Islands next year.
The Prime Minister Sogavare in turn welcomed the frank and friendly exchanges, saying “It’s thoroughly enriching for me.”