RAMSI review now gets underway in Solomon Islands after slight delay

The review of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has begun in Honiara after being postponed from Tuesday this week due to cancellation of a flight for the two member Pacific Islands Forum team in Fiji as a result of bad weather.

As well as investigating ways of changing RAMSI, the review has been given the task of finding a way for it to be withdrawn.

The review will also look at separating assistance programs funded by AusAid and RAMSI, and the creation of governing body involving the Solomons' government to regulate RAMSI's operations.

Since taking power Solomons' Prime Minister Manessah Sogavare has made it clear he wants an end to Australia's domination of the mission, and eventually wants it out of his country.

The terms were agreed to at last year's Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting, where Mr Sogavare and Australian Prime Minister John Howard clashed over the mission's role.
The terms of the review appear to indicate Mr Sogavare has the support of other Pacific leaders for a change in RAMSI.

The two member team conducting the preliminary review began its investigation yesterday. The review will report to forum Foreign ministers, with Forum leaders to make a final decision in Tonga in October.

Source: Radio Australia