By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO in Suva, Fiji
AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong said the Australian government’s position on unity of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) had consistently being seeking to support whatever the consensus could deliver.
Senator Wong said her focus, along with those of the Pacific leaders who had gathered for 51st PIF Leaders Meeting in Suva, Fiji was to try and do what they could to strengthen the Forum at this time where it needed to be unified.
“The most important thing is to ensure that, at this time, in a contested world, in a world confronting climate, COVID and the economic recovery from COVID, the Forum remains united.
“And in the bilateral I’ve had, in the discussions I’ve had, in my previous visits, and in the dialogue today, leaders talked about the challenges the region faces – climate change, COVID and the recovery from COVID, both of which have fallen harder on this region than on many other parts of the world and, of course, strategic competition.
“All the nations of this region are seeking to navigate those challenges and we do it best when we can do it together and that’s the approach Australia’s taken.
“And that’s the approach the Pacific Islands Forum is taking and that is why Pacific Forum unity is so important.
“The region is stronger together; it’s a simple proposition.”
Senator Wong commended PIF Chair and Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama, together with the government of Fiji and leaders from the Micronesian States for their work in trying to bring the Forum back together.
“I think that a lot has passed, a lot of progress has been made and if you look to where the Forum was over a year ago, now, we are in a much better place than we were and that’s a great tribute to leaders who have been prepared to come to the table when there were really strong differences.”
Senator Wong added that with where things were with Kiribati, PIF needed to keep the door open and keep working towards reconciliation.
She said this in reference to Kiribati’s withdrawal from PIF.
“I think we have to give this some time.
“We obviously have a Suva Agreement, which Australia is supportive of, as the pathway to that unity.
“Can I note that we are continuing to work towards greater unity, and I note the position that the President of Kiribati has articulated, and I say, along with all other members of the Forum, that we seek reconciliation, and the door remains open, and we hope that progress can be made there.”
