PIF

Japan to delay nuclear wastewater release into Pacific Ocean says PIF

This comes as incoming Forum chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown travelled to Japan as part of the PIF delegation in an effort to convey their concerns.

He requested a deferral of Japan's plans which will see over one million tonnes of wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant dumped into the ocean.

Regional E-Commerce Strategy and Nauru E-commerce assessment shaping up

The Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap will outline consensus on the priority regional actions to boost digital trade readiness. It follows national and regional diagnostic assessments conducted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) during the past four years, as well other high-quality evidence,

Forum to discuss Vanuatu's intent to defer hosting Leaders Summit

The Government of Vanuatu has formally advised the Forum of its intention to defer the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Meeting scheduled for 4 - 7 August 2020 to next year.

The Vanuatu National Taskforce recommended to the Government to defer in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A meeting of the Vanuatu Council of Ministers discussed the recommendation at a meeting last month.

 

Photo PIF Caption: PIF Leaders at their meeting in Tuvalu in 2019 

     

Nauru calls for urgent climate action for Pacific at meeting with UN chief

UN chief António Guterres travelled to Fiji, Tuvalu, New Zealand and Vanuatu to discuss the looming threat of climate change, and while in Fiji attended the special meeting at the Forum secretariat, that is aimed at building momentum ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit to be held in New York in September.

At the meeting, President Waqa delivered an address highlighting the rich cultural traditions of the islands, their fight for independence, and importantly their vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

Pacific Skills Partnership commits to skills development for a sustainable Pacific

As Chair of the 49th Pacific Islands Forum, the Republic of Nauru initiated the partnership in collaboration with The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC).

The President of Nauru, Baron Waqa, led representatives from civil society, Pacific Island governments and the private sector in signing a ceremonial tapa scroll confirming their commitment to skills development for a sustainable region.

Forum to demand apology from China

Baron Waqa, the president of Nauru, warned China and other global powers seeking to use the Pacific as their playground to compete with each other - that the Pacific will no longer tolerate any interference

"From this meeting in Nauru, going forward, we will not allow this kind of behaviour in our Pacific meeting space," Mr Waqa said.

NZ foreign minister not going to discuss refugees at Pacific Islands Forum

NGO groups have been pressuring leaders to get conditions for refugees in Nauru on the agenda.

But Peters says he hasn’t gone to Nauru to talk about that issue.

“What we're not going to do is hijack the whole purpose of a huge part of the world that is a blue conference, so to speak. It is critical that we get our agenda completed as well.”

Peters attended the forum’s official opening ceremony last night.

He’s expected to have his first bilateral meeting with his new Australian counterpart, Marise Payne today.

Pacific Forum to raise concerns over court with Nauru

Nauru abandoned its court of appeal relationship with Australia late last year but is yet to establish a local final court of appeal.

The Forum's secretary general, Dame Meg Taylor, said she is seeking to discuss several issues of regional security with Nauru's president Baron Waqa in the lead up to the Forum leaders meeting in the country in September.

Dame Meg said Nauru's judiciary will be among them.

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PIF granted Permanent Observer Status to UN in Geneva

Mere Falemaka, the Permanent Representative in the Permanent Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) presented her letter of appointment as Observer to the UNOG in Geneva Tuesday to the UNOG Director General Michael Moller.

The regional representative’s office will now be known as the Permanent Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum to the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and other international organizations in Geneva.

Nauru President pays tribute to late regional climate champions

Nauru President and Chair of the meeting, Baron Waqa acknowledged the contribution of the sons of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the late Minister-in-Assistance to President Hilda Heine, Mattlan Zachras and former Foreign Minister, Tony de Brum.

“The passing of both men is not only a loss to the Marshalls but to the Pacific region as well. Especially in regard to Tony who was so well known to many in the region. Tony was our champion of climate change and he was like an older brother to all,” President Waqa said.