PM Sets Dates And Invites Pacific Leaders
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while laying out the upcoming events related to COP23 also invited fellow Pacific Island leaders to be at Bonn in November.
While giving an update on the COP23, he asked the leaders to stand with him and that he was not only representing Fiji as the incoming COP23 President, but his Pacific brothers and sisters as well. “Excellencies, my message to all of you today - my kai vata as we say in Fiji, my Pacific brothers and sisters, is this: As incoming president of COP23, I want you by my side all year at the big events leading up to Bonn in November.
“This is not just about Frank or about Fiji but every Pacific leader, every Pacific nation, every civil society group, every private sector body, everyone who represents the ordinary men, women and children in the Pacific who look to us for leadership on this issue of critical importance to our collective future.
“I want your input. I need your input. And I want every Pacific leader beside me as we demand decisive action to protect the security of our people and those in other vulnerable parts of the world. “I want to issue a warm personal invitation to you all to come to Suva next month; July 3 and 4 for our Climate Action Pacific Partnership event. This is where Pacific leaders will join members of civil society and private sector to hammer out an agenda that we can collectively pursue as the year progresses. “And that we can take to our PreCOP in Nadi in October and to Bonn the following month.” Also discussed will be a number of legacy items - programmes and projects that can be of lasting benefit to the Pacific after COP23 has ended.
“And we also seek your input on that. We have the funding to pay for the attendance of all PIDS leaders plus one other official and I appeal to you all to set aside those dates to be with us in Fiji. “Mr Bainimarama also assured them that the costs of the leaders’ attendance will be borne by the COP23 team.
“I also invite every Pacific leader to again join me in Denarau for the Pre-COP on October 17 and 18. This is a critical event a month out from COP itself that will refine our collective position and set the tone for our overall approach in Bonn.
“As I mentioned, we are also inviting a number of leaders from outside the region to join us in a collective act of solidarity with the Pacific and other vulnerable nations. Again, we have the funding to bring every PSIDS leader plus one official to Nadi.” “Again, please set aside November 6 to 17 to be in Bonn as honoured guests and to be with me as COP president as we pursue our collective agenda. I want to use your mana as leaders individually and collectively.
“As well as the mana of former Pacific leaders who have been at the forefront of the climate struggle over the years and whose experience and wisdom we also want to tap. Again, funding assistance is available through the UNFCCC to enable you to be in Bonn. And I appeal to all of you to come.”