RAMSI, the regional assistance mission for the Solomon Islands took up much of the leaders’ discussions in their annual retreat, but it did not stop them from discussing other issues of common interest and concern in the Pacific.


Among issues raised in the Forum’s communique were:

• Pacific Plan
Leaders welcomed the considerable progress made in implementing the Pacific Plan and noted the key challenges that need to be overcome in order for the Plan to be effectively implemented.

• Labour Mobility
Leaders were briefed on New Zealand’s seasonal labour mobility. Leaders welcomed this development and looked forward to further details. Leaders also welcomed the progress on the establishment of the Australia-Pacific Technical College, including the announcement by Australia, that the College headquarters would be located in Suva, Fiji with a network of training centers in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu.

• Regional Fisheries
Leaders welcomed in particular the development of the FFA Ecosystem Approach to fisheries management; the template for model fisheries management legislation; the regional fisheries compliance strategy; and the Sustainable Development Framework for Pacific Fisheries.  They also noted the status of the negotiation of a possible Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the EU; and the adoption of the Vessel Day Scheme by the parties to the Palau Arrangement.

• Climate Variability and Change, Sea Level Rise and Extreme Weather Events
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015 and noted that development of initiatives under the Framework is identified as a priority for action under the Pacific Plan, along with mainstreaming climate change into national sustainable development strategies.

• Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Leaders noted the progress made in the implementation of the Regional Strategy on HIV and AIDS and re-affirmed their commitment to the achievement of the objectives of the Regional Strategy at all appropriate levels in their governments. Leaders also welcomed the development of the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project.

• Pacific Regional Assistance to Nauru
Leaders welcomed the achievements of the Pacific Regional Assistance to Nauru since their last meeting. 

• Counter-terrorism
Leaders noted that a response to a terrorist incident in the region might include requests for external assistance and that a Regional Cooperation for Counter-Terrorism Assistance and Response model to facilitate such requests would be developed for consideration by the 2007 Forum Regional Security Committee and Leaders’ Meeting.