By Pita Ligaiula in Koror, Palau
Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has told regional leaders that the challenge facing the Pacific is no longer simply agreeing on priorities but delivering results.
Opening the Forum Leaders’ Plenary in Koror, Whipps said leaders were meeting at a time of rapid change and increasingly complex regional challenges.
“The responsibility now rests with us as leaders to provide a political direction.
“We do so in a time when the environment around us is changing rapidly. And one thing is clear, the evolving nature of our challenges is becoming too complex,” Whipps said.
Whipps said discussions with the wider Pacific regional family, civil society, the private sector, associate members, observers and international partners had provided important context ahead of the leaders’ deliberations.
He said Pacific countries must draw on their collective strengths to find common solutions.
“It will require greater regional leadership, stronger regional coordination, and above all, unity of purpose.
“Our challenge now is one of delivery,” Whipps said.
The Forum Chair said the breadth of the leaders’ agenda reflected the scale of challenges facing the region, covering political leadership and regionalism, peace and security, economic development, the wellbeing of Pacific peoples, climate change, oceans, technology and connectivity.
He said leaders must provide clear direction to regional agencies and use the Pacific’s collective voice to advance agreed priorities.
“I trust that through our deliberations today, we will be clear about the outcomes we seek, the direction we give our regional agencies, and the advocacy that we want to support,” Whipps said.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa said the agenda before leaders represented a year of work through the Pacific’s ministerial meetings and regional processes.
“The agenda before leaders reflect the breadth of the challenges and opportunities facing our region.
“It also represents a combination of considerable work across our regional processes over the past year,” Waqa said.
Waqa noted that while some Forum leaders were absent because of national commitments, their countries were represented and their views would be conveyed through their delegations.
He said the issues before leaders had progressed through sectoral ministerial meetings, the Forum Officials Committee, the Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and other regional processes.
“Some matters are before you for endorsement. Others require strategic guidance.
“And on some issues, our regional processes have taken us as far as they can, and political direction is now required.”,” Waqa said.
He said the Forum Secretariat and the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies were ready to implement the decisions and direction of leaders.
“There are many challenges that we face, but we are always assured by the commitment and unity of our region,” Waqa said.
“The Secretariat, together with our CROP agencies, stand ready to support that work and to give effect to your direction.”
The plenary marks the start of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, where leaders are expected to set the political direction on major regional priorities and decisions affecting the Blue Pacific.
The Leaders’ Retreat will be held on Thursday.
