Sharma and Slade to step up co-operation on Small States

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma arrived in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on 2 August 2010 for a four-day official visit to attend the 41st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Meeting.

He held talks with the PIF Secretary-General Tuiloma Neroni Slade and they discussed progress on the Pacific Plan to enhance good governance, regional peace and security, and economic integration. Mr Sharma briefed his counterpart on the Commonwealth’s Pacific Governance Facility in Solomon Islands that was launched in April this year in support of the Pacific Plan. The Facility is available to Commonwealth Pacific member countries to assist them in strengthening democratic institutions, promoting access to public information, and to develop anti-corruption institutions and land information management.

Both Secretaries-General discussed the challenges faced by the Pacific Islands including the effects of the global financial crisis and access to financing for development. Mr Sharma briefed Mr Slade on the Small States Conference held at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK, at the end of July to examine issues faced by Commonwealth Small States, including the Pacific Islands.

Mr Sharma informed Mr Slade that the Commonwealth Secretariat is helping the 32 Commonwealth small states to develop a strategic presence in Geneva, headquarters of the World Trade Organisation, the UN Conference on Trade and Development and the UN Human Rights Council, through the establishment of a Small States Office by year’s end.

He said the PIF and the Commonwealth can look at avenues to enhance co-operation to further the interests of small states such as developing greater access to finance for development and for tackling the challenges of climate change.

Secretariat Links:

• Secretary-General to attend Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Vanuatu

Related Websites:

• Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat