Regional Call For Support
We can no longer depend on the goodwill of others, chairperson tells foreign ministers.
Sunday 11 August 2024 | 16:55
2024 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting participants at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Office in Suva on August 9, 2024. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) chair Mark Brown has urged Foreign Affairs Ministers from the region who gathered in Suva on Friday not to depend on the goodwill of others.
Delivering his opening remarks as chairperson of the 2024 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting, Mr Brown said the region was contending with ever-increasing geostrategic interest.
“We continue to battle a climate crisis that intensifies every year,” Mr Brown said.
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We navigate new and emerging challenges and threats such as cyber-attacks and transnational crime. 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.
He said amidst these pressures, he was pleased that they were taking the time to consider how to better strengthen progress and the priorities that they shared.
Pacific Islands Forum chairperson Mark Brown. Photo: PIF
We can no longer rest on our laurels and depend on the good-will 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.
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.
He thanked the ministers for their collaboration as he came to the end of his chairmanship role.
As I approach the end of my tenure as forum chair, allow me to also acknowledge every member around the table this morning (Friday) 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.
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