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Ponhpei, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is now home to Pacific Forum Island Leaders for the next few days.
This independent nation and a United States associated state has been receiving dignitaries from throughout the Pacific for the 47th Pacific Islands Forum meeting which officially opens today.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and his delegation are among the group of Pacific leaders who arrived in Pohnpei today.
Accompanied by Foreign Minister and External Trade Minister Bruno Leingkon and Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries & Biosecurity Matai Seremaiah Nawalu, Mr. Salwai checked into the Cliff Rainbow Hotel in Pohnpei at about 4am today.
Ni-Vanuatu reporter and President of PINA, Moses Stevens, who is currently in Ponhpei for the meeting says Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister are having a series of bilateral talks this morning with the Commonwealth, France, the World Bank and Japan.
He says regional integration and the West Papuan issue are among the issues to be discussed by the leaders in the Pohnpei leaders meeting, and especially with a strong advocacy on the issues by members of the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO).
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor said in her media briefing Tuesday that the Pacific integration framework is about inclusivity.
PIANGO Executive Director Emele Duituturaga said in her media briefing that the West Papua issue is not just a Melanesian matter, but a regional one.
For the second time since the 46th PIF leaders’ summit in Port Moresby last year, a breakfast meeting took place this morning between the regional leaders and leaders of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Salwai is expected to, among other issues, declare Vanuatu’s position on regionalism and integration.
Vanuatu has maintained that such a concept becomes more meaningful “when it is inclusive and leaves no one behind”.
Photo by Moses Stevens. Vanuatu PM Charlot Salwai (centre) and his delegation arrive in Pohnpei for the Forum Leaders meeting
