Nauru President represents MPS at forum leaders retreat
REPUBLIC OF NAURU
Government Information Office
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Friday, 6 August, 2021
Nauru President represents MPS
at forum leaders retreat
The 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders virtual
meeting convened today under the theme 'Security and Prosperity in
Unity: 50 years of the Pacific Islands Forum', 6 August.
The meeting coincides with the 50th Anniversary
of the Pacific Islands Forum. Nauru is a founding member of the
Forum, along with six others - Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New
Zealand, Tonga and Western Samoa - now Samoa.
Nauru's President, His Excellency Lionel Aingimea, and chair of
the Micronesian Presidents' Summit (MPS), attended today's meeting
as a representative of the Micronesia leaders, who standing on the
principles of the Mekreos Communique, are not attending the
retreat.
The Mekreos Communique articulates that if the long-standing
Gentlemen's Agreement is not honoured, then the Micronesian
Presidents see no benefit in remaining with PIF.
The Micronesian sub-regional group consisting of Nauru, the
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, and Palau, commenced denunciation from the PIF in February
2021.
At today's meeting leaders discuss priority immediate issues
such as:
•
COVID-19 recovery efforts;
•
Update on the Political dialogue mechanism
•
Consider a draft Declaration on preserving maritime zones in the
face of sea-level rise related to climate change;
The annual Forum meetings are chaired by the Head of Government
of the host country, who remains as Forum Chair until the next
meeting.
Formalities today include Tuvalu Prime Minister Hon. Kausea
Natano handing over as Forum Chair to host leader of the 51st
Pacific Islands Forum, Fiji Prime Minister Hon. Josaia V
Bainimarama.
Nauru last hosted the Forum in 2018.