SOLS: Forum officials disappointed over cancelled meeting
Updated
Pacific Islands Forum officials says they're disappointed about the cancellation of talks with the Solomon Islands government on the future of the Regional Assistance Mission, RAMSI. This follows the cancellation yesterday of a tripatite consultative meeting in Honiara.
Presenter: Sam Seke
Speakers: Peter Eafeare, PNG's High Commissioner to Fiji and Permanent Representative to the Forum,
SEKE: The Forum officials included Tonga's Foreign Affairs Secretary Vaega Tone; Cook Islands Foreign Affairs Secretary Edwin Pittman and the PNG High Commissioner to Fiji and Permanent Representative to the Pacific Islands Forum, Peter Eafeare.
They left Honiara shortly after being told without notice that the meeting had been cancelled.
Secretary to the Prime Minister, Rence Sore is quoted as saying the government was only notified of the meeting last weekend.
Mr Sore says the talks have been put off until a later date to allow government ministries time to put together a position paper.
He also says the government's special envoy to Ramsi, Michael Maina should have notified the government in good time.
But Mr Maina says the relevant authorities were notified more than a month ago.
MAINA: Yeah, they have been informed by the foreign affairs that the meeting is not going ahead at the request of the government.
SEKE: They're saying here that there's not enough time. Why is that?
MAINA: Well, I don't know why such a statement should be made. The information about this meeting has been conveyed to the relevant secretaries on the 12th August, so that the meeting could be held this time. So there's already enough time.
SEKE: My understanding was that the meeting was actually supposed to be held at the end of August and all the parties concerned have been informed?
MAINA: That is correct, yeah. It should have taken place at the end of August, to be followed by the forum ministers standing committee after the 1st to the 4th about that.
SEKE: Mr Maina, snubbing forum officials and may be officials from RAMSI as well, people who've been helping Solomon Islands does not reflect very well on the government, does it?
MAINA: Well, depending on the outlook by people, the decision has been made to defer the meeting for the next time, so that decision has been taken and that's it.
SEKE: Now, you are the government special envoy to the Regional Assistance Mission. Have you been informed of the fact that now the government is saying that they were not prepared?
MAINA: Yes, I have been informed, yes. The focal point for forum to Solomon Islands is foreign affairs. So all the information flows through them and then to the rest of the government agencies.
