Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua reaffirmed his government’s commitment to RAMSI when he opened the 2nd meeting of the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee here in Honiara.
Sikua told the meeting his government attaches a lot of importance to the Solomon Islands-RAMSI partnership framework.
“The Solomon Islands government attaches a lot of importance to this framework as it will define a new phase in our relationship. In this regard, my cabinet has endorsed the framework prepared by our officials as the basis for negotiations or consultations with RAMSI and that the Forum Secretariat representative in Honiara oversee the negotiations,” said Sikua.
“The Solomon Islands government proposed framework embraces the priority areas that are outlines in our policy, strategies and implementation documents as well as, in our medium term development strategy that we recently adopted. These areas are vital to our efforts to achieve rural advancement,” Sikua added.
He said his government understands that there are certain proposals in the proposed framework that RAMSI may not be able to accommodate as they could fall outside its current mandate.
“In this regard, we are committed to working closely with the Forum and RAMSI to find the way forward,” he said. “I am also confident that your meeting today will establish a suitable process to undertake further consultations with a view to adopting an agreed partnership framework agreement by the end of this year.”
The meeting is attended by Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, Solomon Islands Foreign Minister William Haomae, Tongan Foreign Minister Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau, Niue’s Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs Billy Talagi and Papua New Guinea’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sali Subam.
