Kiribati Expresses Disappointment over the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Appointment Process.
The Government of Kiribati stands in solidarity with its Micronesian family and reaffirms its support for the Micronesian Presidents Summit’s (MPS) Mekreos Communique and the sub-region’s collective intention to withdraw their membership from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). This position was decided last year based on Micronesia’s understanding of a Gentlemen’s Agreement for sub-regional rotation that must be honored in the appointment of the next Secretary General of the Forum.
At a Special Virtual Meeting convened on 8 February 2021, the Presidents of the five members of the MPS discussed the outcomes of the Special Pacific Islands Forum Retreat held last week including the selection process used to appoint the next Secretary General. The outcome of this selection was disappointing to Micronesia as the principle of inclusivity and informal geographical rotation through a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’, was not honored by their Pacific Islands Forum colleagues.
Micronesia had earlier issued a strong call for fair representation by all members as able contributors to the shared legacy and aspirations of this grouping. Being the region’s premier political organization, the Pacific Island Forum had only been headed once by Micronesia in its 50-year history.
Following this meeting, the Micronesian Presidents jointly agreed that all five nations will initiate the formal process of withdrawing from the Pacific Islands Forum, as set out in the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. As part of this formal withdrawal process, the Government of Kiribati will immediately undertake due consultations with respect to its own internal legal and procedural requirements. Ultimately, the decision to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum rests with the Government of Kiribati.
E kaota aki kukureina Kiribati n aron rineakin te Tia Koroboki ni Kabuta n ana rabwata te Betebeke ae te Pacific Islands Forum
E a tia te Tautaeka n kanakoa bwanaana n ira taangaia raona aika aban Micronesia ao n kamatoa ana boutoka nakon aia motinnano are e kinaaki bwa te Mekreos Communique are e Office of the President PR No.090221 turuturu iai iangoan te otinako man te rabwata ae te Forum ngkana e aki iraki aia kaoti ibukin te nakoa n Tia Koroboki ni Kabuta are e riai n kabubutaki imarenaia aaba.
N te bowi ae onoti are a karaoia n te Moanibong 8 n Beberuare 2021, ao a tia Beretitenti aikai man aban nako Micronesia n maroroakina mwiin ana bwabwaro te Pacific Islands Forum are e karaoaki n te wiiki ae nako, ao ni moamoa riki iai bon aron rinean te Tia Koroboki ni Kabuta n te rabwata aio.
E bon rangi n korakora nanoia n aki kukurei aban Micronesia n mwiin rineakin te Tia Koroboki ni Kabuta ae boou kioina ngkai e rangi n teretere nanoia ni kan katabangaka aron riniia ni bane kaain te Forum bwa a na riai n kona n riki bwa taan kaira naba te Forum ao n aki ti riki bwa kaaina. A kaota naba kakawakin irakin te boraraoi are ea tia ni wene ke te Gentlemen’s Agreement bwa e na kabubutaki te kaintekateka n Tia Koroboki Kabuta aio imarenaia aono aika Micronesia, Polynesia ao Melanesia.
Aio nanon Micronesia are ea bon kaman katanoata n nooran kakawakin manga reken aia tai n ibuoka n iango rinanon te nakoa aio ao n bon kinaakin te konabwai bwa ea tabangaki nakoira ni bane ike tia kona ni bane n kairiri ao n tobwa nanon te bootaki aio. Man moan tein te Forum are ai 50 ana ririki ngkai ao te kananokawaki bwa Micronesia bon ti teuana ana tai n tia n anganaki te mwioko ae moan te kakawaki aio ao are ea matata iai bwa ea bon tiraua te tai ae ea tia n tarariaoaki iai.
Imwin te bowi are e onoti aio ao Beretitenti man Micronesia a motinanoia bwa ana wakini moantetere ibukin otinakoia man ana rabwata te Betebeke ae te Forum n iri kainibaire ake a tia ni kaweneaki n te boraraoi ibukin katean te rabwata aio. Ni kakoroan nanon te babaire aio ao Kiribati e na waekoa ni wakini ana marooro rinanon te tautaeka n kaineti ma kainibaire ao tua ake a kona n irekereke ma aio. Te kabanea ni babaire e bon tiku inanon bain te Tautaeka ni Kiribati.