REMARKS: Secretary General, Baron Waqa, at the High Level Talanoa on Deep Sea Minerals

•    Your Excellencies
•    Heads of States and Governments
•    Hon Ministers
•    Distinguished Delegates and Gentlemen
 

Omo Yoran, Bula Vinaka, and warm Pacific greetings.

It is my pleasure to address you all as the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum at this High-Level Talanoa Dialogue on Deep Sea Minerals (DSM).

Our gathering here today brings to fruition the call our Forum Leaders made back in 2023, for a constructive regional dialogue and cooperation on the issue of Deep Sea Minerals (DSM). A lot has been said in the past by different countries. Different viewpoints and perspectives have been espoused by many on the  different sciences and reasoning.

As in many other parts of the world, the prospect of deep-sea mining (DSM) can be contentious and polarizing.  Today, we gather here for a talanoa. A talanoa that should be rooted in our common values that we all live by every day as Pacific people

We recognize the importance of an ocean for today, tomorrow, and the future. That the ocean is our home and the very thread that links us together as one Pacific Forum family. It is more than just a body of water, it is our identity, it is our livelihood, and it is who we are.

With 96 per cent of our region being ocean, the ocean is at the heart of our geography, our cultures, and our economies. Enormous responsibility is expected of us to ensure that we, our children, and future generations, continue to benefit from all its beauty and bounty in a sustainable way.

I applaud this very milestone achievement, where for the first time, we are gathering here at the highest political level to talanoa on an issue that at times, we often do not have the opportunity to speak with  each other. This is not a negotiation, but rather, today, as a first step we now have an opportunity to actually speak to each other. Let us grab this opportunity with both hands and engage openly and constructively in the sharing of ideas and exchange of views. Let us do this in the true Pacific Way at this Talanoa.

Your Excellencies,

As one Blue Pacific Continent, we know the power of talanoa, the sharing of and respect for views. Talanoa is a nuanced and powerful space, where we listen, and where we are all heard.

Given this is the first Talanoa of its kind, we have proceeded with a closed format. CSOs have not been formally invited to this event. However, I have no doubt that there will be future opportunities to enable meaningful CSO engagement and drive inclusivity as we have agreed to under our 2050 Strategy.

I have no doubt based on past experiences that our Pacific Leaders understand the value of talanoa as a regional platform we can harness to become a powerful force for global change and in promoting new ways of respecting our Ocean. The value of the Talanoa as a platform and solidarity as a region has in the past enabled the region to influence and shape the outcome of multilateral processes, such as the UNCLOS, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention, the adoption of the SDG14, and for supporting regionalism itself.  

It is no doubt difficult work, and not for the faint-hearted. But the power of islands to unite as one ocean people and to move forward as a collective has proven time and again that we can resolve the most complex issues such as this, through open and frank discussions, with respect and a sound appreciation of our differences.

At the end of this Talanoa, as set out in the Concept Note, a meeting summary will be produced by the Secretariat, which Members will have the chance to review and finalise. Any further outcomes will be determined by Members. 
As you are aware, the Leaders endorsed the Framework of the Pacific Oceanscape in 2010, as a catalyst for the effective implementation of our regional ocean policy. It provides for the role of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, to strengthen ocean governance and policy coordination by carrying out advocacy and coordination of ocean priorities at national, regional and international levels. I intend to work closely with you all and the Ocean Commissioner to help strengthen regional ocean governance in the Blue Pacific which is in line with the call made through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific to strengthen political leadership.

From our lands to our seas, across all shores – the population of the Blue Pacific continent combined are but a tiny part of the world’s 7.8 billion people. But our Blue Pacific continent represents the largest ocean of the world.

And we have always known what the science has been telling us all--that the future of our one blue planet depends on a healthy respect for all life above –and below-- water.  

Tubwa kõr, vinaka vakalevu, I thank you.