PM MANELE CLARIFIES DEFERMENT OF POST-FORUM DIALOGUE

By Alfred Pagepitu

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has clarified that Solomon Islands has not excluded any of the 21 Post-Forum dialogue partners  from the upcoming 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.

Speaking at a media conference today, Manele rejected the use of the term “exclusion” and said instead that the dialogue process has only been deferred to allow time for the region to strengthen its own approach to engaging with external partners.

“ They said we’ve excluded our dialogue partners. That’s not the word.”

“Basically, we are deferring the Post-Forum dialogue process for the very reasons that I have alluded to,” Manele explained.

He said the decision is consistent with the 2023 Rarotonga Leaders’ Communique (from the 53rd Forum), which called for a review and reform of the Post-Forum Dialogue (PFD) to ensure it is guided by Pacific priorities and ownership.

“Our post-Forum dialogue partners are very important in helping the region move forward on climate change, oceans, fisheries, and the capitalization of the Pacific Resilience Facility.”

“But what we are saying is, let’s give more time for the region to put the new process in place so we can effectively engage with our partners going forward not now, but at a later stage, once we are ready,” Manele added.

The Post-Forum Dialogue is traditionally held immediately after the Forum Leaders Meeting and provides space for partners to engage with Pacific leaders on development cooperation, security, climate action, and regional resilience.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manele also gave assurance that the forum hosted in Honiara remains inclusive, transparent, and focused on Pacific-led priorities, free from undue geopolitical pressure.

He said despite the absence of traditional Post-Forum Dialogue (PFD) sessions, the forum will still produce meaningful outcomes.

“ We will still have very good attendance and the opportunity for our leaders to deliberate, especially during the retreat and plenary sessions, on matters that matter to the Pacific: climate change, oceans, and fisheries.”

The Pacific Islands Forum is the region’s leading political and economic policy body, comprising member countries.

It also maintains formal dialogue partnerships with 21 countries and organizations, including the United States, China, the European Union, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and India.

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