"It is with honour and pride for our great Pacific region that I assume leadership of the Pacific Plan Review in 2013. I am humbled by the responsibility entrusted to me by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, and commit to leading a comprehensive, inclusive, and deeply reflective Review process to achieve successful and practical outcomes from this important exercise.
"The Pacific Plan remains the guiding foundation for Forum countries’ endeavours to strengthen regional cooperation and integration. We have come a long way since the Plan’s adoption by Forum Leaders right here in my homeland of Papua New Guinea, where Leaders gathered for their annual summit in Madang in 2005.
"As envisaged by Forum Leaders at the time, the Pacific Plan is a ‘living document’ that must continue to meet our region’s evolving priorities and needs. I take on this immense task of reviewing the Pacific Plan mindful that there is a lot of work to be done. Our findings will need to be coherently ordered and structured to produce a succinct and useful report to Leaders.
"I look forward to presenting Leaders with a refreshed Pacific Plan at their 44th Pacific Islands Forum in the Republic of the Marshall Islands next year.
"In closing, I wish to thank the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum again for their confidence. As I take on this important responsibility, I remain guided by their Vision for a Pacific region that 'can, should, and will be a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so that all of its people can lead free and worthwhile lives'." Sir Mekere Morauta, KCMG, former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (Ends)
Contact Mue Bentley Fisher at the Forum Secretariat via mueb@forumsec.org.fj or +679 9998677 for further information or click here for more on the Pacific Plan PRESS STATEMENT 109/12: Preparations underway for Pacific Plan Review (17 September 2012)
