Opening Remarks by the Chair of the 2019 FOC Sub Committee on Regional Security Meeting
His Excellency Sebastian Anefal
15 October, 2019
Suva, Fiji
Members, permanent technical observers, Secretary General and staff of the Secretariat, I welcome you all to the inaugural meeting of the Forum Officials Sub-Committee on Regional Security.
Today, we continue to face a range of security challenges. Some have been enduring, some are emerging. However, they all affect our political and developmental aspirations as a region, as individual member states and as communities of Pacific Island peoples.
I am therefore grateful that the Federated States of Micronesia has assumed the chair of this important Sub-Committee.
Excellencies and Colleagues, over the next two days we will be considering a number of important agendas that will enable us to address a number of directives from Leaders and Foreign Ministers.
We will also look to ensure the progressive implementation of the Boe Declaration Action Plan that was endorsed by Leaders in Tuvalu in 2019.
We have a full agenda with a number of substantive decisions to be made.
We need to ensure a proactive approach to managing our regional security environment.
I therefore seek your support over the next two days. I hope we will have robust and constructive and discussions.
I also wish to acknowledge the Government of Australia for their financial support.
With these few words, I have the honour of opening this inaugural meeting of the FSRS.
I thank you all.
-ENDS-
