(Majuro, hospital Marshall Islands) – Today, Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak and new Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum announced that the Republic of Palau will host the 45th Pacific Islands Forum next year.
Earlier in the week, as delegations from each of the Forum Island Countries (FICs) began arriving to Majuro, the idea of Samoa hosting the Forum along with the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference next year was thrown around.
But following the Leader’s retreat in Eneko Island today, it was announced that the Forum would once again take place in the North Pacific with Palau as its 45th host.
“In Palau, we look to pick up on the momentum that has been started here in Majuro. In the true spirit of the Pacific culture, we sometimes do not use very harsh words or harsh demands in our discussions… but one thing you will see very clearly is this is an issue of our very survival”, said Palau President Tommy Remengesau Junior following the adoption of the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership and the announcement of Palau as next year’s host.
Press Secretary Keobel Sakuma confirmed to OTV that Palau will host next year and says the administration is confident that Palau can host a high-level meeting such as the Forum.
Information gathered indicates that Solomon Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia were among potential hosts for next year’s Forum.
FSM reportedly pulled out because of lack of accommodations while the Solomon Islands pulled out for unknown reasons.
The Pacific Islands Forum compromises of 15 island countries including developed island nations such as Australia and New Zealand, with French Polynesia and New Caledonia as Associate Members and twelve nations and organizations as observers.
The Forum, which founded in 1971 was originally named as the South Pacific Forum, but changed its name in 2000 to the Pacific Islands Forum to better reflect the geographic location of its members in the North and South Pacific.
