The Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders is an opportunity for the United States and more than 20 Pacific Island governments to consult with each other on a wide range of security and economic issues, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

In her opening remarks May 7 in Washington, Rice said the United States has "a special kinship" with its Pacific neighbors. She called 2007 "the year of the Pacific," and said throughout the year the United States will be focusing on efforts in the region to increase stability, good governance and economic development through closer political, economic and cultural ties.

The secretary said the United States will be announcing a number of public diplomacy and economic initiatives at the conference, including:

- A new State Department regional office in Suva, Fiji, to oversee U.S. public diplomacy activities throughout the Pacific Islands;

- Increased educational exchanges;

- New democracy grants in the region to build capacity in the nongovernmental sector and projects focused on democratic processes, civil rights and rule of law;

- Increased participation by the Pacific Islands in the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program; and

- Briefings and workshops on securing duty-free benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences Program (GSP) program.

Rice said the United States also plans to highlight the potential economic benefits to the region that will result from the relocation of U.S. forces from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam.

According to Rice, many Pacific Island countries face growing political, environmental and economic challenges, and these are often compounded by other, more long-term transnational threats. In response to these challenges, she said, the United States and Pacific Island nations "are working together to chart a comprehensive approach, promoting opportunity and prosperity, good governance and the rule of law, greater peace and security.

"I stress this comprehensive approach for an important reason, because we all know and share the conviction that democracy plays a key role in fostering political and economic development," she said.

Rice expressed the United States' deep concern about the unlawful overthrow of the freely elected government in Fiji in December 2006.

"We are very pleased that Pacific countries have spoken with one voice through the Pacific Islands Forum in calling for the speedy return of democracy to Fiji," she said. "The Pacific cannot devolve into an area where strong men unilaterally decide the fates of their country and destabilize democratic foundations of their neighbors."

Rice also thanked Pacific Island nations for their contributions to global security.

"A great many citizens from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau," she noted, "volunteer and serve in the United States Armed Forces and many have given their lives in the defense of freedom. In this sacrifice, they join their fellow volunteers from Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas, Hawaii, and other states in protecting our shared freedoms. The United States is grateful for their service."

This is the first time the triennial conference, which is organized by the Honolulu-based East-West Center, has met in Washington. The conference brings together the heads of government and other senior officials from the Pacific region, including Hawaii and the U.S. territories.

The Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders will continue in Washington through May 9. On May 8 and 9, the Department of State also will host a Core Partners Meeting for countries and organizations with a strong interest in the Pacific to discuss regional issues and to improve policy coordination. US Bureau of International Information Programs, 07/05/07.