Tuesday 16 June 2009

The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, today hailed the recent Solomon Islands Government - RAMSI Partnership Framework as an important milestone in the life of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

On a short visit to RAMSI headquarters today, Mr Slade said the conclusion of a Partnership Framework between Solomon Islands and RAMSI was a major step forward  in clarifying the areas in which the two parties will work together and jointly assessing progress. 

The Partnership Framework will be presented to the Pacific Island Forum Leaders for endorsement at their meeting in Cairns, Australia in August.

Mr Slade, who is currently visiting Honiara for a Council of Regional Organisation in the Pacific (CROP) meeting was briefed on the mission’s work and a recent developments in RAMSI’s partnership with the Solomon Islands Government.   

The Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, who hosted Mr Slade’s visit to RAMSI’s headquarters, emphasised the importance of RAMSI’s regional nature to the success so far of the Mission.

“I don’t think you can underestimate the strength that the contribution from every member of the Forum brings to the Mission,“ Mr Wilson said.

He also expressed RAMSI’s appreciation for the importance oversight role the Forum and its Secretariat plays in the arrangements governing RAMSI.    

The new Commander of RAMSI’s Participating Police Force, Wayne Buchhorn, the Commander of RAMSI’s Military Contingent, Neil Grimes, the Deputy Development Coordinator, James Hall also briefed the Secretary General on progress being made  
across all areas of RAMSI’s operations.