Kiribati leader urges dialogue with Fiji to continue

Robert Matau



 

Kiribati President Anote Tong does not believe the July Melanesian Spearhead Group Plus meeting harbours a motive to splinter or divide the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
He said there are now a number of strong sub groupings existing in the Pacific like the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (of fishing nations), Micronesians in the North and MSG. But “I don’t think these sub groupings should be perceived as undermining the solidarity of PIF,” he told ISLANDS BUSINESS.
Tong was in Suva last month on his way back to Kiribati from Taiwan where he met with Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou.
MSG members are Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomons and the FLNKS of New Caledonia.
While in Suva he met with Fiji’s Frank Bainimarama to discuss bilateral matters and also talk about the MSG meeting this month.
Speaking to ISLANDS BUSINESS, he said: “I don’t believe it is in anyone’s interest to split the Forum. I think it is still a very powerful body and there should not be any moves to split its solidarity or undermine it.
“We have never considered that as a possibility. I think if anything, it has the purpose of actually restoring the strength of the Forum.”
Tong confirmed he would be attending the MSG Plus meeting to be hosted by Fiji on July 22-23.
“This will be the first time we’re attending MSG and we’re keeping an open mind on the matter.”
An invitation was sent out to all Forum member countries to attend the MSG meeting, hence the name MSG Plus.
When this edition went to press, Kiribati and Tuvalu had confirmed their attendance. Leaders from the Northern Pacific won't be attending as they will be having their own pre-Forum meeting at same time. But their officials will attend the meeting. Tonga is also understood to have accepted.
MSG Plus will give islands leaders the chance to talk with—and see what is happening in—Fiji without the overbearing presence of Australia and NZ.
Fiji’s Professor Brij Lal, who is based in Australia, thinks Fiji is attempting to hijack the MSG in response to its suspension from the Forum.
Melanesian nations were never totally happy with Australia and New Zealand’s hard line on Fiji and on more than one occasion had sought a more conciliatory approach.
Lal thinks the MSG meeting will allow Fiji to promote its regional leadership, with Fiji seen to have stood up for itself in defence of its national sovereignty.
On the meeting with Bainimarama, Tong said: “We discussed bilateral matters with the Prime Minister and we value our relationship with Fiji.
“We also respect the collective Forum decision, but we will continue to engage with countries like Fiji as we feel it is in our interest to continue to do so."
President Tong believes that it is important to continue the dialogue with Fiji as part of the process of understanding each other.
“We maintain that it is more productive to remain engaged with Fiji.”
He also spoke to ISLANDS BUSINESS on several other issues summarised below:
Outcome of the MCG meeting:
“Unfortunately I am not aware of what happened at the meeting but I feel we should continue to have dialogue with Fiji, and should never close our doors.”
Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Vanuatu in August:
“I am going to the Forum meeting in August and I should be looking at trade amongst other things to see what we can do for our nation. We will also be looking at climate change issues and seek a mandate for a more meaningful agreement particularly with the upcoming meeting in Cancun later this year.”
Possibility of the floating island:
"We have been exploring various options should we need to re-locate our people. One of these options being the possibility of building a floating island. It will cost us $2 billion and we do not have that kind of money. But nevertheless it is an option and we are exploring a number of them. We believe the international community should be listening to us as the last thing we want to do is leave our islands. We will be victims no matter what happens.”
Move to discredit IPCC status:
“We are aware of these attempts but we do not need statistics to tell us that we face the stark reality of becoming the first victims of global warming and sea level rising.
"At the end of the day, the very extreme possibility is that we will lose our identity if we have to re-locate and leave our islands. That would be our last option.
“This represents the single most morale challenge to mankind if they do not respond, then there is no credibility to anything.
"In the name of democracy, we would ask that everyone addresses this issue particularly those nations who affect the climate more than others.
“Food security is another issue that challenges Kiribati and the availability of clean water for drinking purposes plus long dry spells in various parts of the island nation.”
On the Taiwan visit
“We continue to enjoy cordial relations with Taiwan and they have offered to help us in various initiatives.
"We have been promised assistance from Taiwan and we are happy for their kind gesture. We will continue to build on our relations with other nations also.”
Challenge to leadership
“Yes, there had been moves to dissolve parliament but they were unsuccessful. However, we will continue to perform our functions to the best of our ability.”