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Thirty-Fifth Pacific Island Forum - Forum Communique, Apia, Samoa 2004

Leaders again expressed the wish that the Pacific Plan, intended to be the main instrument for promoting their new Pacific vision, deliver real benefits for the Pacific peoples by proposing concrete plans for the enhancement of economic growth and sustainable development.

http://www.pacificplan.org/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?comments_parentId=32&topics_threshold=0&topics_offset=0&topics_sort_mode=commentDate_desc&topics_find=&forumId=8&PHPSESSID=0fcc7800b4c3d34be6fa9932b030560e

(Added: Fri Aug 13 2004   Modified: Thu Feb 08 2007   Hits: 245)

The Eminent Persons' Group Review of the Pacific Islands Forum, April

A refreshed mandate and vision for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is the key goal of a wide-ranging Review being overseen by the current Forum Chair, Prime Minister Helen Clark. T

http://www.pacificplan.org/tiki-download_file.php/?fileId=41

(Added: Wed Mar 31 2004   Modified: Fri Feb 09 2007   Hits: 313)

Concerns Over Eminent Persons Group Composition: PCRC Media Release

November 3, 2003. The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre has described the composition of the Eminent Persons Group to review the Pacific Islands Forum as a false impression that only men of the older generation are capable of becoming members of the Eminent Persons Group. PCRC Director, Motarilavoa Hilda Lini says "While we respect the wisdom and calibre of Pacific elders, we also expect the truth and reality of 50% voices of women and 75% voices of youth to also feel that they take ownership in directing the Review Process of the PIF, if the organisation they have always believed they owned will have any relevance to the future of the Pacific community".

http://www.dev-zone.org/kcdocs/6469pcrc061103.html

(Added: Thu Nov 06 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 28 2006   Hits: 223)

A Free and Vibrant Media is an Essential Component of Good Governance

Paper presented by Lopeti Senituli (Human Rights & Democracy Movement in Tonga) to the Civil Society Presentation on Governance and Civil Society, 15 August 2003, Carlton Hotel, Auckland.

http://www.dev-zone.org/kcdocs/6380PacForTonga.html

(Added: Mon Oct 20 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 28 2006   Hits: 513)

Governance and Security: A Major challenge to Pacific Civil Society

Paper presented by Aisake Casimira (ECREA) at Civil Society Presentation on Governance and Civil Society at the Pacific Forum, organised by Council for International Development (CID) 15 August 2003, Carlton Hotel, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

http://www.dev-zone.org/kcdocs/6379PacForECREA.html

(Added: Mon Oct 20 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 28 2006   Hits: 436)

Pacific Islands Forum: What it is, and what it does

The New Zealand Herald, 12.08.2003 What is the Pacific Forum? A club of 16 countries from the Pacific who meet for several days a year to talk about the issues that affect them. Once these focused on trade, education and tourism, but they have been overtaken by issues such as security, governance, sustainable development, people smuggling and Aids. In the Pacific style, there are no rules and leaders talk frankly about regional concerns.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3517524&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

(Added: Tue Aug 19 2003   Hits: 182)

Human rights the answer to the Pacific's challenge

(Scoop) Thursday, 14 August 2003, 1:06 pm Press Release: Amnesty International. Leaders meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland leaders must demonstrate their commitment to human rights by turning rhetoric into reality, according to Amnesty International.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0308/S00154.htm

(Added: Mon Aug 18 2003   Hits: 174)

Thirty-Fourth Pacific Islands Forum - Final Communique (pdf)

The Thirty-Fourth Pacific Islands Forum was held in Auckland, New Zealand from 14-16 August 2003 and was attended by Heads of State and Governments of Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. New Caledonia and Timor-Leste also attended the formal session as observers. The Forum Retreat was held at Government House in Auckland.

http://www.dev-zone.org/downloads/5927PacForum03.pdf

(Added: Mon Aug 18 2003   Hits: 503)

West Papua firmly on Pacific Islands Forum agenda

(Scoop) Monday, 18 August 2003, 9:03 am Press Release: West Papua Leaders. Leaders of the Pacific people of West Papua attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland have welcomed the Forum's continued interest in their struggle for self-determination and human rights. "While we hoped that the leaders would have agreed to grant West Papua observer status, we believe we have made considerable progress in raising awareness of the situation in our country and are grateful to our Pacific neighbours for their understanding of our desperate plight, " said Dr John Ondawame, spokesperson for the West Papuan leaders.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0308/S00180.htm

(Added: Mon Aug 18 2003   Modified: Mon Dec 05 2005   Hits: 192)

[Pacific] Forum Principles of Good Leadership

Key principles of good governance which we hold to be fundamental to good leadership. Principle 1 - Respect for the Law and System of Government. Principle 2 - Respect for Cultural Values, Customs and Traditions. Principle 3 - Respect for Freedom of Religion. Principle 4 - Respect for People on Whose Behalf Leaders Exercise Power. Principle 5 - Respect for Members of the Public. Principle 6 - Economy and Efficiency. Principle 7 - Diligence. Principle 8 - National Peace and Security. Principle 9 - Respect for Office.

http://www.un.org/special-rep/ohrlls/sid/A-58-304-SIDS.pdf

(Added: Mon Aug 18 2003   Modified: Fri Feb 09 2007   Hits: 209)

A Pacific engaged: Australia's relations with Papua New Guinea and the island states of the south-west Pacific

From the Australian Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Tabled 12 August 2003. "Pacific island nations are experiencing a period of rapid social change characterised by uncertainty and instability as a result of environmental and development pressures. There are numerous issues for these countries to contend with during this time, such as: increasing social and economic inequality; corruption; high unemployment particularly for youth; ethnic tensions; environmental degradation; and declining health, education and living standards. With these considerations in mind, the Committee sought to assess how effectively Australia's assistance in the region was addressing these issues and in what ways Australia might in the future, assist these countries to achieve a level of sustainability."

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/FADT_CTTE/png/report/index.htm

(Added: Thu Aug 14 2003   Modified: Fri Oct 22 2004   Hits: 548)

Call for EU-style 'Pacific community'

Wednesday: August 13, 2003 An Australian Senate report has called for the creation of a Pacific Economic and Political Community including Papua New Guinea and the Pacific island states with a common currency and a shared labour market, based on Australia.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/12/1060588392171.html

(Added: Thu Aug 14 2003   Modified: Thu Oct 26 2006   Hits: 389)

Neo-Colonialism in the Pacific: The 34th Pacific Islands Forum

(Aotearoa New Zealand Independent Media) by Forum Analysis, Wed Aug 13 '03. "The Forum itself is to be conducted in a fashion that is an insult to democracy. Following the Leaders' meeting, there is an opportunity for "private, off-the record discussion" (according to MFAT). Considering the autocratic nature of some of the countries involved, a secret leaders' meeting with no public agenda and no access to the public media is an insult to democracy."

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2003/08/52313.php

(Added: Thu Aug 14 2003   Modified: Thu Feb 08 2007   Hits: 276)

Pacific Islands Forum: New Zealand 'window into Pacific'

The New Zealand Herald, 14.08.2003. Fran O'Sullivan investigates regional relationships and issues from the Pacific Forum.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3517990

(Added: Thu Aug 14 2003   Modified: Fri Sep 15 2006   Hits: 270)

Real security is environmental security

The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting continues to be the region's most important political meeting. Each year, the leaders of 16 countries meet to discuss issues of regional concern, including environmental issues. Greenpeace has attended the Forum in various capacities for well over ten years. We believe it is an opportunity to ensure the voice of non-government organisations is also heard as issues of regional importance are discussed. We hope that this year, environment and sustainabilty issues are given a high priority as part of the Forum's work. Greenpeace believes real security is environmental security. This page includes links to issues of Greenpeace's 'Forum Nius' newsletters.

http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/PIF/Default.asp?PRID=575

(Added: Thu Aug 14 2003   Hits: 156)

Pacific Islands forum: Region's nations gather to fight rising tide of worries

The New Zealand Herald, 13.08.2003. "As well as Australia and New Zealand, 14 of our Pacific Island neighbours will take part in the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland this week. Leaders of some of the smallest and most vulnerable countries in the world will meet Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Australian counterpart, John Howard, to grapple with regional challenges such as failures of governance, security, people smuggling, gun control, population growth, HIV/Aids, ethnic tensions, and growing gaps between the rich and the poor. We look at the nations and some of the issues facing them."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3517757&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

(Added: Wed Aug 13 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 28 2006   Hits: 216)

Pacific News bulletin banned from 34th Pacific islands forum in Auckland

Media Release, August 8 2003 The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) is accusing the New Zealand Government and the Forum Secretariat for refusing to grant media accreditation to the Pacific News Bulletin (PNB), the only Pacific Islands civil society owned newsletter, to report the 34th Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland beginning August 12, 2003.

http://www.dev-zone.org/kcdocs/5867PCRC120803.html

(Added: Tue Aug 12 2003   Modified: Fri Oct 22 2004   Hits: 509)

West Papua: The Forgotten Pacific Country

(Scoop) Monday, 11 August 2003, 8:43 am Press Release: Indonesia Human Rights Committee. The international solidarity movement for West Papua, meeting in Otara, Tamaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (New Zealand) from 8-10 August, calls upon the members of the Pacific Islands Forum to remember the unresolved tragedy of the Pacific people of West Papua when they meet in Auckland later this week. The movement urges Forum leaders to grant West Papua observer status as a step to resuming its role in Pacific regional affairs, a right denied to the West Papua people for the past forty years. It welcomes the Forum's previous expressions of concern about the human situation in West Papua, but urges the Forum leaders to take further action in response to the deteriorating situation in the territory and the targeting of human rights defenders.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0308/S00090.htm

(Added: Mon Aug 11 2003   Modified: Mon Dec 05 2005   Hits: 170)