Submitted Thu, 05/11/2009 - RAMSI Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson and Participating Police Force (PPF) Commander,
Wayne Buchhorn, welcomed the Leader of the Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare to RAMSI headquarters at the Guadalcanal Beach
Resort (GBR) this week. It was Mr Sogavare's first visit to the base since RAMSI was deployed to Solomon Islands in July
2003.
The Special Coordinator said he appreciated the opportunity to hold an open and constructive dialogue with Mr Sogavare.
Topics discussed included the Solomon Islands Government-RAMSI Partnership Framework, the economic challenges facing
Solomon Islands, policing issues and the role of the Participating Police Force, capacity development and
sustainability. "I am very pleased to have been able to welcome the leader of the Opposition to RAMSI headquarters and
to hold such wide-ranging and useful discussions," Mr Wilson said.
Following a short tour of the base, Mr Sogavare met with representatives of RAMSI's police and military contingents,
including several Pacific Islander PPF officers. Mr Sogavare said he enjoyed his discussions with the Special
Coordinator and other members of his executive team and valued the opportunity to see first-hand RAMSI's operational
headquarters. "This was my first time to visit RAMSI headquarters and I am very happy to have had this opportunity," he
said.
ENDS