Forum exit made official

Palikir: The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Government has formally triggered moves to leave the Pacific Islands Forum.

A diplomatic note has gone to Fiji as the host for the forum secretariat, beginning a oneyear process for the FSM to withdraw from the forum, concluding on February 14 next year.

The move comes after the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit of the FSM, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Kiribati and Nauru.

All have said they would leave the forum in protest at their candidate not becoming secretarygeneral, despite what they deemed a gentlemen’s agreement to rotate the position among the subregions of the Pacific.