Opening remarks by the Chair of the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting, Hon Mark Brown
09 August 2024, Suva. Fiji.
The Prime Minister of Tonga and Incoming Forum Chair, the Hon. Hu’akavameiliku
Honourable Ministers of the Pacific Islands Forum
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Mr Baron Waqa
Senior Officials
Representatives of the CROP Agencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Kia Orana, Popongi Manea to you all!
It is wonderful to be back again here at our Secretariat and indeed, to be in Suva and amongst colleagues and peers.
It has been a busy year for many of us and we have seen a number of momentous transitions throughout the region.
Not the least being, the assumption of Office by Secretary General Baron Waqa – SG, on behalf of the Forum Ministers gathered here this morning, may I offer once again our sincere congratulations on your appointment.
You come into the role at an important time in our region’s history.
We contend with ever-increasing geostrategic interest.
We continue to battle a climate crisis that intensifies with every year.
We navigate new and emerging challenges and threats such as cyber-attacks and transnational crime.
And we continually work as a region to strengthen our political solidarity – to ensure that when one Member calls on us, we, as a Forum Family, are able to respond.
Indeed, I cannot underscore enough the importance of our collective solidarity.
While we all recognise that our national priorities will always be paramount, we must also recognise that in the face of the uncertainties we contend with today, we must be able to trust and count on the solidarity and support of those closest to us – our Forum Family.
Amidst these pressures, I am pleased that we are taking the time to consider how we can better strengthen the way we organise ourselves to progress the priorities that we share.
We can no longer rest on our laurels and depend on the goodwill of others.
If we are to attain our shared 2050 vision, we must be more strategic and more assertive in our collective engagement.
In doing so, we can ensure that partners are supporting our priorities, and our aspirations.
I realise that these are issues that we can consider further through the agenda items before us today.
In saying so, I encourage and urge us all to be frank, constructive and honest in our discussions –- this is our space – let’s make the most of it.
As I approach the end of my tenure as Forum Chair, allow me to also acknowledge every member around the table this morning for your support and candour over the course of Cook Islands’ chairing of the Pacific Islands Forum.
It has been an honour and a privilege for my Government, my people and myself to have been entrusted with this role by the Forum membership.
In this convening of Foreign Ministers, I thought it only fitting to also acknowledge you all for your support over the last 18 months.
Finally, I wish to also recognise the incoming Forum Chair, the Hon. Hu’akavameiliku of Tonga and I look forward to handing over the baton when we meet in Tonga at the end of the month.
With those few words, I thank you and I will invite the Secretary General to offer his own reflections.
Meitaki Ma’ata.
[ENDS]
