The Republic of Nauru will host the 49th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit in 2018.
The summit will coincide with the island state’s 50th independence anniversary next year.
Nauru President Baron Waqa told reporters in Samoa that Nauru put up its hand some time ago indicating an interest in hosting the annual Forum leaders meeting in 2018.
“I tell you why we picked 2018 Forum and that’s because Nauru 2018 is very very important year. It is our anniversary year, 50th anniversary of independence and democracy. I think our people are so excited and ready to host the forum meeting in 2018 and have that as part of our celebration as well so that all the leaders can celebrate with us,” he said.
President Waqa also said that the engagement with the civil society will continue at the Forum meeting next year.
“I have invited them and told that there would be a similar meeting to be held in Nauru when Nauru hosts the next Forum meeting. We will be working with the Forum and the secretariat to make those arrangements. That is not a problem.”
This year for the very first time, the region’s civil society organisation met with Forum leaders and raised a number of their concerns about issues like peace and security and the effect of non-communicable diseases in the region.
Photo Loop Nauru. Caption: President Baron Waqa speaking to reporters at the post-Forum press conference in Apia, Samoa