Sogavare leads Solomon Islands delegation to Forum Meeting in Fiji

By George Tausiria

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare is leading close to a 20-person delegation tomorrow for the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Nadi, Fiji on 23-25 October 2006.

His delegation will also include cabinet ministers including foreign minister Hon. Patteson Oti, and senior government officials.

Mr Sogavare and his delegation will be picked up tomorrow morning by his Papua New Guinea counterpart, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, on a chartered Air Niugini flight. They will then travel together to Vanuatu to pick up their counterpart, Hon. Ham Lini and his delegation to Fiji.

Solomon Islands High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Bernard Bata’anisia, today said high on the Pacific Islands Forum agenda are the review of the Pacific Plan, appointment of the new Secretary General, and an update on the progress of RAMSI.

The government is yet to announce who it will support for the forum’s top job.

Preceding the PIF are the Small Island States Meeting and the Pacific ACP Meeting on the morning and afternoon of 23rd October respectively. The Post Forum Dialogue Partners will take place on the 26-27 October.

Source: Government Communications Unit