Fiji Sun

Micronesia Opposes Deferral of Forum Appointmen­t

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Micronesia­n countries say they oppose a postponeme­nt of the appointmen­t of a new secretary-general for the Pacific Islands Forum.

The forum chair, Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Kausea Natano, has suggested that while the COVID-19 pandemic continues the appointmen­t of the Forum Secretaria­t head be deferred to next year.

This year’s forum leaders summit has already been postponed until next year.

Micronesia’s stand

But the Presidents of five Micronesia­n countries say a virtual forum meeting scheduled for this year should be used to select the new Secretary-General to replace incumbent, Dame Meg Taylor. Palau’s Tommy Remengesau Jr, Marshall Islands’ David Kabua, Nauru’s Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, Kiribati’s Taneti Maamau and David Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia issued a statement.

“Regarding your recommenda­tions that the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders postpone the decision to appoint the secretaryg­eneral until the next face-to-face meeting of the PIF Leaders Retreat, we respectful­ly disagree and do not support this suggestion,” the leaders said.

They also expressed strongly their position that the next secretary general should come from Micronesia.

“In the spirit of the PIF principle of sub-regional rotation and regional solidarity, it is imperative that the Micronesia­n sub-region be given its due turn and timely opportunit­y to lead the important work of the PIFS (Pacific Islands Forum Secretaria­t) with its nomination of a well-qualified candidate.”

In a June 18 letter, Mr Natano said that due to the “political sensitivit­ies and complexiti­es surroundin­g the appointmen­t of the secretaryg­eneral, postpone, the decision on the appointmen­t to the next formal face to face, session of the Pacific Islands Forum’s Retreat.

The PIF chair also said the deadline of nominees for the next Secretary-General role, which was supposed to end on June 19 should be extended until the Forum meeting in Fiji next year.

But the Micronesia leaders also disagreed, adding they do not support the extension of the deadline. The five Forum leaders also did not agree to either extending the term of Dame Meg Taylor or the appointmen­t of deputy secretaryg­eneral Filimon Manoni as acting secretary-general until a new one was appointed.

Challengin­g times

The leaders said although COVID-19 has been very challengin­g to the Pacific nations, “there is a need to find innovative ways for the PIFS to remain the region’s premier dynamic organisati­on”. According to the Micronesia­n leaders, the pandemic is not a good enough reason to postpone the appointmen­t of a new secretaryg­eneral.

“This pandemic must not prevent us from continuing to address important priorities of the region, even if decision making methods are exceptiona­l.

“There is no valid reason why Forum Leaders’ cannot address and resolve the selection of the secretaryg­eneral during the Virtual Forum Leaders’ Retreat this year.”

In a separate letter to Mr Natano, President Remengesau said that the decision not to extend the term of Dame Meg or to appoint Mr Manoni in acting capacity “will not be construed in any way as inconsiste­nt with the high regard we accords these leaders”.

While the Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna is the latest to announce his candidacy for the position, the Micronesia­n countries are standing by their nomination, Marshall Islands diplomat Gerald Zackios, which was made in September 2019.

Mr Remengesau said the June 19 deadline should be honoured at the same time he requested the PIF chair to provide a legal and procedural basis for the proposal for an extension to the deadline.

 ??  ?? Cooks Prime Minister Henry Puna is the latest to announce his candidacy.
Cooks Prime Minister Henry Puna is the latest to announce his candidacy.
 ??  ?? Pacific Islands Forum chair and Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano.
Pacific Islands Forum chair and Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano.
 ??  ?? Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretaria­t, Meg Taylor.
Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretaria­t, Meg Taylor.

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