Small states making an impact, SIS chairman says

 PACIFIC Island Forum small island states chairman and Palau president Tommy Remengesau Jr says the group is making its presence felt within the region and internationally.

He said that yesterday in his opening remarks at the one-day SIS leaders’ meeting which is part of the week-long forum.

“The last year has been a very active one for our small island states,” Remengesau Jr said.

“At the 45th Pacific Islands Forum held in Palau, it became clear to all of us that our group has simply not been achieving the anticipated goals at the level we hoped to achieve when first congregated.

“Having come to this conclusion, our leaders have worked together with their able staff to craft a way forward for our review.

“As the outgoing chair, I encourage all of us to complete this work and to adopt a comprehensive strategy that will bind us more closely together and that will achieve our original goals: to strengthen our small islands’ position in the forum and to improve our future development prospects.”

Remengesau Jr called for continued unity in the face of climate change. He said Palau was now in the process of enlarging its own conservation areas with the Palau National Marine Sanctuary.

“All of these MPAs, started by our member states, including the Micronesian Challenge, are innovative responses and are in line with the global community’s call to protect 10 per cent of our total ocean by 2010, and to integrate this protection into areas beyond boundaries.”