Forum leaders

Forum foreign ministers address key priorities for the region

The 2023 FFMM convened at the Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and was chaired by the host chair of the upcoming Forum Leaders Meeting, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown.

Both Australia and New Zealand's foreign ministers, Senator Penny Wong and Nanaia Mahuta, attended the meeting.

Fiji's assistant foreign affairs mionister Lenora Qereqeretabua attended the meeting on behalf of the prime minister and minister for foreign affairs Sitiveni Rabuka.

Lobby group bemoans 'missed opportunity' by Forum on West Papua

The Sydney-based Australia West Papua Association's spokesperson Joe Collins said the people of Indonesia-occupied West Papua see themselves as part of the Pacific community.

Collins said the outcomes statement by the Forum Leaders in Suva last week - which failed to mention West Papua - is a "missed opportunity" to help people who are suffering at the hands of Jakarta actions.

He said regional leaders must urge the Indonesian government to allow for a fact-finding mission to the territory.

Macron to host Forum leaders in December

Mr Fritch said talks with Mr Macron in Paris on Monday also included discussion on France's nuclear test legacy.

Mr Fritch said he suggested to the French president that he meet some of the Forum members attending the COP23 talks in Germany.

Mr Fritch said the Pacific leaders were keen to learn what is being done after the COP21 talks in Paris two years ago.

On nuclear compensation, Mr Fritch said Mr Macron agreed that it was not normal that so few victims of the French nuclear weapons tests had been compensated.