GVijHj`jcVGdVY!BjVc^`Vj!HjkV!;^_^ Eg^kViZBV^a7V\!HjkV!;^_^ IZaZe]dcZ/+,.((&'+%%!;VXh^b^aZ/+,.(''%'&* :"bV^a/^c[d5[dgjbhZX#dg\#[_LZWh^iZ/lll#[dgjbhZX#dg\ Excelling together for the people of the Pacific Contents Secretary General’s Introduction 2 Pacific Islands Forum Profile 6 Tribute to Late Greg Urwin 8 Political Governance & Security 10 Economic Governance 20 Strategic Partnership & Coordination 34 Corporate Services 44 Audited Accounts 48 Excelling together for the people of the Pacific PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT annual report 2 0 0 8 SECRETARY GENERAL’S INTRODUCTION away on 9th August 2008. With the be the direction for the future. investment of leadership and effort Strengthening of regional institutions during Mr Urwin’s time, the Pacific and the deepening of cooperation Plan has now become the key and integration are absolutely regional framework that promotes essential. The Pacific Plan has and facilitates regional cooperation become the entry point for dealing and integration. with all of these issues. As a servant of the region, my own In the period covered by this report, mission is to prepare the Secretariat the Pacific is being confronted by in the best traditions of public and major global challenges including regional service to deliver the vision climate change, ocean pollution of the Forum Leaders to seek a and depletion of marine resources, Pacific where its peoples can lead regional security issues and free and worthwhile lives. For this to now, an unprecedented global happen, we are all pledged to work financial crisis of the most worrying for a region of peace, harmony, magnitude. While efforts are ongoing security and economic prosperity. to determine more precisely the I am pleased to present this, my That vision acknowledges impacts and implications for the first annual report of the Pacific coordinated regional efforts and Pacific, we can be certain that Islands Forum Secretariat, since my behaviour, in a manner that allows none of the Forum countries will appointment as Secretary General us all to honour and treasure the be spared. All will be impacted in by Forum Leaders at their meeting diversity of the Pacific and to build some way. There is no question of in Niue in August 2008 and, my on the strengths of diverse cultures the need to act now to respond to assuming office on 13th October and traditions. Central to all of this the crisis, to reform and strengthen 2008. A great deal has happened is the commitment to common systems and economies, and to since that time and despite the standards of quality governance, be both innovative and pro-active many challenges encountered, the the sustainable management in seeking solutions and, more Secretariat has continued to provide of resources and above all the particularly, to ensure no feasible to Member States normal services, observance of democratic values opportunity is lost. and as effectively as ever. and the promotion and defense of human rights. In this context, the environment in This is a report of many which the Secretariat operated in achievements. I pay tribute to the Given the geographic spread 2008 was especially challenging. staff of the Secretariat for these and vulnerable characteristics of Crowded as the year’s calendar results, as I pay tribute to those who the region, it is clear that regional always is, the Secretariat faced the have held office before me, the late cooperation and integration has additional demands of implementing Mr Gregory Urwin in particular, my much to offer the Pacific, and I its annual work programme against immediate predecessor who passed share the conviction that this must financial constraints, and also the 4 5 annual report 2 0 0 8 PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT Decisions by the Leaders are reached by consensus and are outlined in a Forum Communiqué, from which policies are developed and a work programme is prepared. need to develop a new corporate plan business for the Secretariat. It also refine its budgeting processes and to succeed the lapsed 2005 – 2007 streamlines and rationalises the reporting mechanisms. The 2009 Corporate Plan. The implementation previous nine programmes into Budget and Work Programme of related corporate reforms aimed four more strategically focused approved by FOC was aligned to at institutional strengthening also programmes, namely, Economic the new Corporate Plan and the had an impact on the operations of Governance, Political Governance supporting programme strategic the Secretariat. I am pleased though and Security, Strategic Partnerships plans. that the package of corporate and Coordination, and Corporate reform measures, including the new Services. The Corporate Plan is In addition to the successful 2008 - 2012 Corporate Plan, was supported by strategic plans for development and adoption of considered and adopted by the each of the four programmes which the corporate reforms in 2008, Forum Officials Committee (FOC) identify the Pacific context and the Secretariat was able to make during the year under report. challenges facing the programmes significant progress in implementing and the programmes’ responses. A its work programme. The new Corporate Plan provides new budgeting and finance system greater clarity for the future strategic was developed and implemented. The Political Governance and directions and scope of the core This enabled the Secretariat to Security Programme has managed 4 5 PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT annual report 2 0 0 8 ...working with countries on the social impact assessment of trade agreements and economic reforms activities to bolster regional security, expand law enforcement cooperation, address key causes of conflict and strengthen Pacific governance institutions. A key focus in 2008 was to address the situation in Fiji in the wake of the December 2006 coup, given the failure of the Fiji Interim Government to return the country to democracy. There was a meeting of Forum Foreign Ministers and the convening of a Ministerial Contact Group on Fiji which visited Fiji twice to assess levels of government commitment and credibility of preparations for democratic elections by March 2009 as undertaken by the Fiji Interim Government and as agreed by Forum Leaders at their meeting in 2007. In another priority area, The Programme also played a major Island Countries Trade Agreement the Programme saw relations role in facilitating the annual Forum (PICTA) and its extension to include amongst the key stakeholders in the Leaders’ and related meetings and trade in services; the implementation Regional Assistance Mission to the the range of summits and high level of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Solomon Islands (RAMSI) improved meetings between Leaders and key Economic Relations (PACER) remarkably given low points in partners. In 2008, this included the through the regional trade facilitation previous years, and this allowed Forum in Niue and the Inaugural programme and engagement significant progress to be made in European Union – Pacific Islands in PACER Plus discussions; the overall operation of the Mission. Forum Ministerial Troika meeting. engagement in multilateral trade As the Pacific region continues to The Programme was also active issues, including the involvement face complex security challenges with a range of election observation of the region in the World Trade such as the threat of global terrorism activities in response to members’ Organisation (WTO) and initiatives and transnational organised requests. to develop a coordinated approach crime, support to law enforcement towards the delivery of aid for trade The Economic Governance agencies and other security sector in the region. Programme during the reporting organisations remains a high priority period continued to manage the Significant progress was also made within the Programme. Initiatives regional trade agenda through in implementing the decisions of such as the Forum Secretariat’s support to Members for ongoing the Forum Economic Ministers’ information management project, discussions and negotiations on: the Meeting (FEMM) which focused the criminal deportees project, Economic Partnership Agreement on continuing the momentum in small arms study, as well as work on (EPA) with the European Union; advancing national economic strengthening the maritime security efforts to implement the Pacific reforms. Specific initiatives such as domain contributed to improving the regional security environment. 6 7 annual report 2 0 0 8 PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT ...working with countries on the social impact assessment of trade agreements and economic reforms the regional bulk procurement of aviation, information communication petroleum products saw significant In addition to the and technology, strengthening movement and achievement successful development of integrity and accountability during the year culminating institutions, and climate change. in the conclusion of a Pacific and adoption of the Work on aid coordination and Petroleum Project Memorandum of corporate reforms in 2008, enhancing effective delivery was Understanding (MOU) which is now the Secretariat was able to also a key area of work for the available to interested Members for Secretariat’s Programme. The signature. Three countries signed make significant progress special requirements of the Smaller the MOU at the FEMM in Vanuatu in in implementing its work Island States were the focus of the 2008, and more member countries SIS Unit; and activities on social are expected to sign in early 2009. programme issues