Tonga's Foreign Minister holds talks with Secretary-General

Tonga's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumoepeau-Tupou, held talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK, on 19 September 2008.

Their talks revolved around current priorities and concerns in the Pacific region, and the situation in Fiji Islands.

Also discussed were plans to establish a Commonwealth Small States Office in Geneva that will strengthen the ability of Commonwealth Pacific Island countries to participate more actively in international negotiations with the World Trade Organization, UN Conference on Trade and Development, International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization.

Mr Taumoepeau-Tupou and Mr Sharma also discussed the environmental impact of climate change on the Pacific Islands and concerns about issues such as sea level rise, sanitation and renewable energy sources. Mr Sharma reaffirmed the Commonwealth's willingness to consider fresh ways of tackling climate change impacts in the Pacific region where value can be added to existing work.

The Secretary-General briefed the Foreign Minister on the Commonwealth's new Governance Programme for the region, which is aimed at strengthening public accountability institutions in Pacific Island countries, and which will be delivered in partnership with the work of the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional actors. A Commonwealth governance expert is to be deployed in the region before the end of the year.

The Foreign Minister also updated the Secretary-General on ongoing political reforms in Tonga in the lead-up to General Elections that are scheduled for April 2010.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: Tonga