President Simina and FSM delegation conclude participation at the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum

Rarotonga, Cook Islands – From November 6-10, 2023, the FSM’s delegation led by President Simina, participated in the 52nd annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting, held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, gathering under the theme of “Our Voices, Our Choices, Our Pacific Way: Promote, Partner, Prosper”. As Chair of the Micronesian Presidents Summit, President Simina kicked off the week by convening a special meeting with fellow leaders of the Micronesian bloc, where they reaffirmed their collective support on the Suva Agreement – the agreement that was created to restore unity and address concerns raised by the Micronesian member countries on the rotation of the Secretary General position. The MPS members also committed to producing a Mobilization Letter to rally support for the United Nations Multi-Country Office (MCO) for Micronesia based in Pohnpei, FSM. Throughout the plenary and retreat, the leaders addressed the Pacific region’s most pressing challenges and more importantly, the solutions to address them. The leaders reaffirmed the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, emphasizing its importance across sectors. Regional security, climate change and resilience were key focuses, with commitments to a just transition to a fossil fuel-free Pacific, supporting the Pacific Resilience Facility, addressing climate mobility, and preserving maritime zones in the face of climate change-related sea-level rise. The forum also addressed fisheries, economic development, nuclear issues, support towards protecting Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and support for the Marshall Islands’ candidature to the Human Rights Council. The leaders also agreed that the next meeting will be hosted by Tonga in August 2024. Throughout engagements during the forum, the key priority of President Simina was to ensure the continued and strengthened unity of the Forum with the inclusive participation of its Micronesian members. In an interview with Radio New Zealand, President Simina confirmed that from the national level to the regional level, unity, and “finding the common ground that keeps us together” is of paramount importance, and stated that “though this is my first time being here (PIF), I’m very happy to know that the Pacific way is working”. On the margins of the summit, the FSM also signed a new Financing Agreement with the European Union (EU) worth 3 million euros, to support the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector. The agreement was signed by T.H. Lorin Robert, Secretary of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the FSM, and Mr. Koen Doens, Director General at the European Commission\’s Directorate General for International Partnerships, on behalf of the European Commission. The delegation also held various bilateral meetings with important partners including the governments of Korea, Italy, Portugal, Cuba, Denmark, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia, whom the FSM recently established diplomatic ties with. President Simina also committed to the FSM’s signing of the Samoa Agreement, the new economic partnership agreement between the OACPS (Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States) and the EU, that was set to take place immediately after the PIF leaders meeting in Apia. On the final day of the summit, President Simina also spoke on a panel covering the thematic area of Resources & Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity, which was moderated by T.H. Elina Akinaga, Secretary of FSM Dept. of Resources & Development. On this panel President Simina highlighted the FSM’s challenges in connectivity in all aspects, and noted the administration’s prioritization of this area through its efforts to see to it the completion of the East Micronesia Cable project which will improve internet connectivity between the FSM, Nauru and Kiribati through a submarine cable and supporting infrastructure, and thanked the governments of Australia, Japan and the US for financing this major project. From Rarotonga, members of the delegation deployed straight to Apia, for the signing of the historic Samoa Agreement. President Simina, on behalf of the entire FSM delegation, thanks and congratulates the government and people of the Cook Islands for their warm hospitality and successful hosting of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum and looks forward to continued regional cooperation with the Pacific family. The Forum Communique can be found at: FINAL-52nd-PIF-Communique-9-November-2023-1.pdf