By Pesi Fonua

The adoption by the leaders of Japan and the Pacific Islands of the Okinawa Partnership Declaration on May 27 marked the beginning of a new approach to the dispatch of aid assistance to the 14 Pacific Islands Forum countries.

The Okinawa Partnership further consolidated Japan's commitment to the development of Pacific Island Forum countries.

Coinciding with the adoption of the Okinawa Partnership Declaration (OPD) Japan announced that it had increased its financial aid to the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) for the coming three years from 32 billion yen to 45 billion yen, and the five priority areas where it will spend its assistance are, Economic Growth, Sustainable Development, Good Governance, Security, and People to People Communication and Exchange. The Japanese 45 billion yen assistance will be implemented through bilateral and multilateral assistance schemes, and a major portion of its will be in grants.

In response to the Japanese assistance, PIF leaders on Saturday expressed their deep appreciation for Japan...’s continued commitment and support since the first Pacific Leaders Summit between Japan and members of PIF in 1997.

Security Council

...“Based on a relationship of mutual trust which has been strengthened and developed by the efforts of both sides, the leaders of Japan and the PIF are determined to further enhance this special partnership. In acknowledging the need for early reform of the Security Council of the United Nations, Leaders of the PIF reiterated their support on a bilateral basis for Japan...’s bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council....”

Japan a committed development partner of PIF for years and a supporter of the Pacific Plan that was adopted by PIF in Papua New Guinea last year, also announced that it would take into account the cooperation and collaboration of other ...“like-minded countries...” such as New Zealand and Australia.

Japan, New Zealand and Australia released a Joint Statement on Enhanced Donor cooperation for the ...“Okinawa Partnership for a more robust and prosperous Pacific Region...”.

The three governments reconfirmed their commitment "to support the Pacific island countries in their pursuit of the goals and objectives of the Pacific Plan....” They recognized that ownership of the implementation of the Pacific Plan by PIF will be a key determinant of its success. They also affirmed their support for donor assistance, which reduces poverty, promotes the prosperity of partner countries and the well-being of their people and is accountable and transparent in its delivery.

China in the region

At a joint Press Conference on May 27 by the chair of PIF the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Rt Hon Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and the Prime Minister of Japan HE Junichiro Koizumi, they denied the assumption that the OPD was a reaction to the adoption by China early this year of a similar approach by holding direct aid talks with some Pacific Island Forum leaders. Sir Michael Somare further elaborated that China and other aid donor countries were welcome, but it was not correct to say that Japan, New Zealand and Australia felt threatened with the entry of China into the region.

The Tongan Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele who attended his first PALM meeting supported the five priority areas that Japan chose to focus their assistance on, particularly with regard to Sustainable Development. He agreed that the issue of sustainability was very broad ...“but it covers all the essentials such as the environment. We can...’t sustain economic growth if it destroys the environment....”

Whaling

Was the issue of whaling ever raised during the two-days meeting?

Tonga's Prime Minister said that whaling was not raised but it was clear that it was an issue to be discussed by Japan, Australia and New Zealand. His personal view with regards to whaling, was that Tonga needs about 12 whales annually as a source of protein ...“it is definitely healthier than the mutton flaps that we are importing from overseas....” Meanwhile Tonga has banned whaling since the late 1950s.

Dr Sevele praised the Japanese initiative of the PALM meetings, which has been very successful since the first PALM in 1997 followed by the Okinawa Initiatives in 2003, and now with the Okinawa Partnership in 2006. He said that the Okinawa Partnership will further enhance the usage of aid assistance to the Pacific Islands, ...“getting aid programs more focused...”, even though he believed in Tonga...’s approach of designating aid donors to one particular region of the country, such as the EU for Vava'u, Australia for Ha'apai and New Zealand for 'Eua and the two Niuas.

With regards to a comment by the Japanese Prime Minister HE Junichiro Koizumi at the opening ceremony on May 26 when he referred to the essential need for an open sea lane for the free access of ships through the Pacific Ocean, Dr Sevele believed that Koizumi was referring to need for an open sea lane through the high seas for the benefit of free trade, though there are needs for a certain degrees of securities, ...“such as the transportation of nuclear waste through the Pacific Ocean....”