SG's Opening Remarks, Pacific ACP Ministers Meeting, Apia, 2011
PACIFIC ACP TRADE MINISTERS MEETING (PACPTMM)
Aggie Grey’s Hotel, Apia, Samoa
3 - 4 February 2011
OPENING REMARKS by SECRETARY GENERAL, PACIFIC ISLANDS
FORUM SECRETARIAT, TUILOMA NERONI SLADE
Vice President of Kiribati, Honourable Teima Onorio,
Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Honourable Ham Lini,
Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, Honourable Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
Honourable Ministers
Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Distinguished Officials from the region
Deputy Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Representatives of the Forum Fisheries Agency and the Oceania Customs Organisation
Colleagues and friends
May I acknowledge at once the kindness of our host Government in receiving us all so graciously at a particularly
preoccupied time in the national calendar of Samoa. It is that spirit of hospitality, so typical of our region that I
believe will go a long way towards the success of this singularly important Ministerial meeting.
I want to thank Madam Fekita Utoikamanu for her role in this meeting, and ask her to convey our greetings to the
Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and our appreciation of SPC’s cooperation and
partnership in this undertaking.
I am very pleased and honoured, on behalf of Deputy Secretary General Peter Forau who is with me, and on behalf of the
staff of the Forum Secretariat, to join the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, Misa Telefoni, in welcoming Honourable
Ministers and you all this morning.
Since you last gathered here Apia in 2009, much has been achieved in relation to the technical areas. Inevitably, we
have met challenges along the way, and these challenges need to be firmly addressed.
Honourable Ministers,
Your officials have had long meetings and extensive discussions since the beginning of the week. The outcomes of their
deliberations are now before you, with their recommendations. We now seek from you, Honourable Ministers, specific
instructions and clear guidance on directions for the way forward in the negotiations for the Economic Partnership
Agreement (EPA).
These negotiations have been ongoing for some six years now. The outcome is vital to all Pacific Island Countries and to
the region as a whole. As we work towards the conclusion, as we must, we need to demonstrate Pacific resilience. We must
not dwell on polarising issues. We cannot lose sight of national needs – for we are a region of diversity. Nor can we
forget the Leaders’ prescription to negotiate as a single region – and the reality of a region of many shared
commonalities and of a shared destiny. The Pacific is at its best when it acts together, and in concert we can
accomplish.
Progress of the negotiations, thus far, falls short of expectations. Only two Pacific ACP countries – Fiji and Papua New
Guinea – have been able to sign interim Economic Partnership Agreements. Elsewhere with other ACP areas, the
negotiations have reached a stalemate in all regions except for the Caribbean. So, Pacific countries are not alone; and
Pacific aspirations and their concerns are shared by other ACP countries.
Honourable Ministers,
You will note from the papers before you and no doubt from your officials, that the work carried out in advancing the
Pacific EPA intensified in 2010. The year 2010 was one of our fullest and busiest years on EPA work. Last year, your
officials have worked hard to prepare for the next meeting with the European Commission. They have undertaken
substantial work on market access offers, and up to seven countries are now ready to move forward with their offers.
Much work has been carried out by the Secretariat in support of your officials, and I want to give you the clearest of
assurance that the Secretariat, at the direction of PACP States, remains fully prepared and committed to play your role
to make every progress and conclude these important negotiations.
Meetings of fisheries and trade officials have made progress on outstanding issues in the fisheries chapter, and the
customs text has been considered and drafted in close consultation with customs officials. During this time we have
benefitted from the advice provided by the Forum Fisheries Agency and the Oceania Customs Organisation, and their
support has been essential in this work.
Market access, however, is not enough to create truly beneficial outcomes for our communities. The Pacific needs to
remain firm in its position that the Economic Partnership Agreement must go beyond market access and have a strong
development focus. Only then will our most vulnerable nations truly benefit, in a sustainable manner, from this
strategic partnership with the European Union. Development cooperation is an integral part of the EPA, and additional,
sustainable resources are required to support EPA implementation and the development of the private sector.
Despite the issues discussed and debated in the last year, there are still many areas that require further
consideration. There are a range of contentious issues that require your guidance and direction. Some of these
contentious issues are unique to the region; others are identical to those faced in other ACP countries, especially in
Africa. These must be resolved if we are to move forward, and this will require flexibility both on the part of Pacific
ACP States and the European Union.
Honourable Ministers,
I invite you to cast a critical eye over the 2011 Draft Strategy prepared by the Secretariat which reviews the Economic
Partnership Agreement and sets out a range of options for the Pacific ACP States with a view to achieving progress and
towards concluding the negotiations. We must determine a clear strategy to bring these negotiations to a conclusion.
Your direction and guidance will be crucial and will map out a clear path ahead of our region.
With respect to PICTA issues, implementation of commitments is lacking and requires special attention and commitment by
all Parties and Signatories. I wish to encourage all those PICTA parties that have yet to complete their domestic
legislative changes to kindly hasten the process so that trade under PICTA can intensify.
Your meeting today will also consider the WTO issues including an update on the Doha Development Agenda and Forum Island
Country accession to WTO as well as an update on the operations of the Forum Office in Geneva.
Finally, you will also be briefed on issues pertaining to Aid for Trade in the Pacific and current Programmes supporting
related activities in the region.
Honourable Ministers and distinguished delegates,
Let me reiterate – and I cannot say it enough – that we must pull together as a region, for it is as a region that we
are strongest in the international arena. Let us foster the high-level political commitment that exists to give this
process momentum and fruition. In your endeavours to progress this important work, you have my utmost assurance that I
and your Secretariat remain committed and ready to assist.
Mr Chairman,
I have noted your suggestion that the Secretariat should be given a “firm time-line to conclude and achieve an EPA”. Let
me say that the Secretariat is at the command of member States and stands ready to receive instructions from this
meeting and do its utmost to carry them out. But let it be understood that the role of the Secretariat is to provide
advice and support to member countries. Your Secretariat is not a negotiator. The conduct and management of the EPA
negotiations are the responsibilities of member countries, as it is the responsibility of each member country to
determine and complete national preparations, including market access offers.
With respect to the concerns of member countries which you have also referred to, Mr Chairman, I would need to say that
the Secretariat treats the expressed concerns of member countries with very great seriousness.
I appear before you, Honourable Ministers, to account fully and personally for the performance of the Secretariat. There
is no pretense to perfection in our services. But we are careful and conscientious in our efforts. Where there are
shortcomings I will be the first to offer sincere apologies to member countries and do so unhesitatingly. But,
naturally, the Secretariat would be entitled to know the details which substantiate the concerns expressed.
Allow me also to say that it is not right to single out a particular Secretariat officer, or officers. Within the
Secretariat, all important decisions on the EPA work and negotiations require the personal clearance and approval of the
Secretary General. With every sense of duty I accept responsibility for the actions of the Secretariat.
Honourable Ministers,
I wish you well in your deliberations.
Fa’afetai lava.