Giff Johnson, Editor, Marshall Islands Journal / RNZ Pacific correspondent
Majuro - In its first parliament session Friday following the vote for the new Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General earlier this week, government and opposition MPs lined up to express unhappiness with the result. But no one advocated pulling out from the regional organization.
The Marshall Islands parliament during its opening session of 2021 in January.
Photo: Eve Burns
The operative word from most of the MPs who spoke Friday in Majuro was for the government to re-assess its relationship with the Forum following the defeat, by a 9-8 vote, of Marshall Islands Ambassador to the US, Gerald Zackios. He was endorsed by all five Micronesian area heads of state as the candidate for the sub-region.
4 other Micronesian nations also threatening to withdraw over the failure of its preferred candidate to win election as the grouping's secretary-general.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
In the Pacific, it is all about the
talanoa: the conversation and the consensus.
For the 50 years of the Pacific Islands Forum (beginning life as the South Pacific Forum), meetings have always happened in person, and it is the power of the leaders being together that has given the forum its rare ability to find common ground.
In 2014, as journalist Nic Maclellan recalls, the prime ministers of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea took a quiet walk together under the trees on the island of Peleliu, in Palau. They returned with an agreement on a new forum secretary general.
However, that won’t happen this year. 2020’s forum, after numerous delays, will take place on Wednesday but virtually, with leaders – internet permitting – joining via Zoom.
Mr. Chairman,
First let me tell you what a pleasure it is for me to be here in Tarawa to represent France and also the European Union, of which our country currently holds the presidency.
On behalf of my government and also in a personal capacity I would like to convey our most sincere congratulations to President Tito on his accession to the presidency of the South Pacific Forum and to convey to him our best wishes for every success in his mission.
I was very touched by the warm welcome we received in this magnificent country and I would like to thank the Kiribati authorities for the way in which this dialogue was organized.