Whenever he looks up from his highly polished hardwood desk, two wall hangings constantly remind Tuiloma Neroni Slade of the work he now does.

Within his direct eye sight is a large framed photograph of a beachfront with the caption 'South Pacific Way,' and a wall clock next to it, its minute hand silently ticking away.

For Samoa's former attorney-general, long-time ambassador to the United Nations and until recently a judge in the International Criminal Court in The Hague, time will be the essence as he guides leaders of the 16 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum in their handling of defiant member, Fiji.

"This matter is at a stage where regrettably it won't be appropriate for me to go into too much detail," Ambassador Tuiloma told ISLANDS BUSINESS inside his spacious office at the Forum Secretariat in Suva last month.

"However, let me say that I am guided by the Forum leaders' decision. The latest decision is the outcome of the meeting of Forum leaders following their special retreat convened in Port Moresby on January 27."

Ambassador Tuiloma did confirm that since the PNG decision of the Forum leaders where Fiji was given an ultimatum to announce an election date [to be held before the end of the year] by May 1 or face suspension from the Forum, no further meeting either amongst leaders themselves or with leaders of Fiji's interim government is planned.

The matter, he says, lies now with Fiji. "I would draw attention to the fact that the Port Moresby decision calls on the interim government to take certain actions within a stated timeframe beyond which with automaticity, the decision to suspend the involvement of the interim government takes effect.

 

 

WHAT TUILOMA SAYS: AIM I have set for myself the mission to prepare the Secretariat in the best possible professional way    towards achieving a secure and prosperous future for the region, founded on the collective efforts to  achieve better outcomes for all. ON FIJI It will be inactivity on its part, not any future activity by the Forum itself that will determine the coming into effect of this decision. REGIONALISM Given the geographic spread and the small state characteristics of our region, it seems clear to me that regional cooperation and integration has much to offer the Pacific. This is ongoing work for the Forum and a high priority for the Secretariat. So yes, I believe deeply in the relevancy and the need for regionalism. But I think it needs to be regionalism that is alive to the challenges of the times, therefore geared effectively to change and to respond.

 

 

"It will be inactivity on its part, not any future activity by the Forum itself that will determine the coming into effect of this decision."

Here are excerpts from the interview with Ambassador Tuiloma.

After completing your term as judge in the International Court of Justice, retirement would seem attractive I would imagine. Why did you accept the offer of the Samoan Government to be her nominee for the position of Secretary-General?

"I am not a stranger to the Forum and in a number of capacities I have been engaged in the work of the Forum and its agencies for a long time. When I was in the service of my government, I was involved as a delegate to many meetings and in the establishment of regional initiatives. I was the first chairman of the board of directors of the Pacific Forum Line, so I was deeply involved in the creation of the PFL. Since that time, I had undertaken consultative tasks for the FFA, USP, Forum Secretariat and for SPREP on a range of regional activities. I believe in the Forum and I believe in the ideals of the Forum."

So is that what you will set out to pursue in your first three-year term?

"Yes, there will be much to do. I am a servant of the region as the Secretariat is. Forum leaders have set the vision for all Pacific people to be able to live free and worthwhile lives. For that to happen, we seek and we need a region of peace, of harmony, security and economic prosperity. The Secretariat's work programme is set annually by leaders is the prescription of that vision. It is a vision that gives acknowledgement to coordinated regional behaviour, in a manner that allows us all to honour and to treasure the diversity of the Pacific and also to build on the strengths of the diverse cultures and traditions. Central to all this, is the commitment to common standards of quality governance, sustainable management of resources and, above all, to be observant of democratic values and the promotion and safeguard of human rights. Now as secretary-general, my own mission that I have set for myself is to prepare the Forum Secretariat in the best traditions of public and regional service, to deliver on that vision."

What about regionalism and the need for regional organisations like PIFS in this day and age?

"I think the fact is that the Pacific has a long history of working together as a region. As it is, the Pacific is home to a number of regional organisations. Forum leaders gathered for the first time in 1971, going onto 40 years as I say, and the forerunner of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPC, predating even the Forum back to 1947. So there is this history. The test of history indicates that this is the right experience and the right thing to do. Given the geographic spread and the small state characteristics of our region, it seems clear to me that regional cooperation and integration has much to offer the Pacific. I would expect that this would be the direction for the future and of the future. Five years ago, Forum leaders moved to reinvigorate Pacific regionalism and to develop the Pacific Plan in part to put emphasis on strengthening regional cooperation and integration. This is ongoing work for the Forum and a high priority for the Secretariat. So yes, I believe deeply in the relevancy and the need for regionalism but I think it needs to be regionalism that is alive to the challenges of the times, therefore geared effectively to change and to respond. With all our regional institutions, we must continue to review and reform our ways for better and improved services and delivery to member states and to their citizens."

 In responding to change and improving service and delivery, what is your thoughts then about the much talked about concept of the Pacific Way?

"I think it needs to be remembered that the coinage of the Pacific Way marked I think a certain point of in our history when with the lingering of colonialism, Pacific Islands leaders sought to break away from the structures and formalism of yesteryears in order to be amongst their own neighbours and kin to share and speak freely of common regional concerns and aspirations. Ultimately, to evolve their own Pacific Islands brand of doing things in the format of regional cooperation. I think it bears remembering that at the beginning without any really formal declarations, Forum leaders simply decided to meet regularly because they needed to do that. I think one could possibly point to attributes for example of informality. I think there's always the search for consensus and there is a general manner of good neighbourliness. I think one could point to these attributes as being typical of the Pacific Way. But I think it would be difficult to be precise about what it is. Frankly, you know and very personally I hope, the Pacific Way remains defiant of definition."

One of the Pacific Way of doing things is being tested by modern challenges the islands face such as negotiations in trade and fisheries for instance. Do you concur with the view that there's little solidarity in the region, that there's more division than unity?

"Given what I've said and in the context of the very long and rich experience of working together as a region, I would say that it's absolutely essential to have regional solidarity. I agree that some of these factors you've mentioned are of complex issues, have the potential to divide.

"But if so, I think it gives greater impetus to the search for solidarity. I think any suggestion that regional solidarity is hard to come by these days is too convenient, too negative for admission and possibly an oversimplification of today's complicated world where so many of the issues confronting member states of the Forum are themselves fraught with difficulties and complications.

"So rather it seems to me that it is probably more the case that such difficulties and complications not withstanding, there are many more occasions to celebrate regional solidarity and our ability to take collective positions on common challenges and in the face of very difficult common challenges. We have done it before and I believe we have greater ability and experience of continuing to seek solidarity."

Can you give an update on where the implementation of the RIF report is at? Is this also in your 'to do' list for the next three years?

"Very much so and leaders especially in their Niue Forum position have given unambiguous instructions on the completion of the RIF process and the need for that process to be substantially progressed by the next Forum meeting in Cairns in Australia and for the implementation of the finalised decisions by the start of next year, 2010. So this is very clear, unambiguous directives that we have. This important work is now at a critical stage and all organisations are involved in the process, in particular the SPC, SOPAC, SPREP and the Forum Secretariat itself are working very hard and with seriousness to complete the necessary arrangements to meet the prescribed timeframe. It's important to underscore that in accordance with the directives of leaders, the new arrangements are not to result in any substantive diminution in the activities of SOPAC. It's more the re-arrangement rather than the disappearance of the important work that SOPAC does."

So at the end of your first term of three years, what would you hope to have achieved?

"I think we have traversed sufficient matters to appreciate there is a great number of large and important issues to be worked on. I have indicated the need to work towards achieving the tangible results for this vision that have been set by leaders. Ambitious? Yes. Attainable? I believe so because they reflect the reality, the concerns, and the range of things that needs to be done.

"The Forum Secretariat has a vital role to play. I have set for myself the mission to prepare the Secretariat in the best possible professional way towards achieving a secure and prosperous future for the region founded on the collective efforts to achieve better outcomes for all. I realise that all this is a great deal of responsibility.

"But I believe that with quiet determination and commitment, we have the talent of the region in the Secretariat clearly in joint efforts with member states and with other regional organisations towards achieving these goals. I certainly will apply to it all my most conscientious effort and possibly that is all one can do."