http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=152832
THE secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Neroni Tuiloma Slade, has advised Small Island State (SIS) leaders to not allow the disappointments of Copenhagen to divert their attention from the dangers of climate change.
"Rather, we need to build on the outcomes of Copenhagen and seek to strengthen them into binding global commitments," Mr Slade said before the SIS Leaders meeting in Port Vila yesterday.
The leaders were to discuss ways of strengthening and advancing the region's approach to climate change.
Mr Slade said the deployment of desk officers in SIS countries had been instrumental in the high rate of SIS compliance with reporting under the Pacific Plan and the Cairns Compact (strengthening development co-ordination).
But he was concerned with the number of vacancies in the desk officer positions.
Mr Slade said there was a need to do more to raise the level of understanding and interest in these positions.
The incoming chair of the SIS meeting is Palau but as its leader arrived late, Niue Premier Toke Talagi chaired the meeting.
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma has also arrived for the Pacific Leaders Forum Meeting and will address the meeting today. He met the Vanuatu PM yesterday. Meanwhile, Australia is represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith and PNG by National Planning and Rural Development Minister Paul Tiensten.
Tongan PM Feleti Sevele, the chairman of the Forum Ministerial Group, arrived yesterday.
The 41st leaders' meeting carries the theme "Navigating the region's opportunities and challenges" but discussions are expected to centre around the Pacific Plan, Cairns Compact, climate change and security issues. Fiji's political situation will be discussed today with the tabling of the Ministerial Contact Group report.
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