Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA364
2006-09-07 00:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
PACIFIC FORUM POST-FORUM DIALOGUE - PROPOSAL FOR
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UNCLAS SUVA 000364
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC OVIP PIF XV
SUBJECT: PACIFIC FORUM POST-FORUM DIALOGUE - PROPOSAL FOR
USG 2006 PARTICIPATION
REF: SUVA 350
Post-Forum Dialogue schedule change
-----------------------------------
UNCLAS SUVA 000364
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC OVIP PIF XV
SUBJECT: PACIFIC FORUM POST-FORUM DIALOGUE - PROPOSAL FOR
USG 2006 PARTICIPATION
REF: SUVA 350
Post-Forum Dialogue schedule change
--------------
1. (U) When EAP/ANP Director Steven McGann visited the
Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Secretariat on Sept. 6, PIF
Secretary General Greg Urwin elaborated on current plans for
SIPDIS
the annual Forum meetings, now to be held in Nadi, Fiji. The
schedule has been condensed, with the Forum meetings
themselves running from Monday, Oct. 23, to Wednesday, Oct
25, followed by the Post-Forum Dialogues (PFD) beginning with
a plenary session in late morning Thursday, Oct. 26, and
individual partner dialogues continuing through Friday, Oct.
27. The U.S. PFD session is currently scheduled for 2:30
p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26.
New option for A/S Hill's participation
--------------
2. (U) Urwin offered a new option for U.S. Forum
participation this year. The PIF is excited about EAP A/S
Hill's intention to attend. Urwin has heard interest from
several Pacific leaders in having a special, up to two-hour
session with A/S Hill at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15. At least
some of the Forum heads of government would participate,
though others would likely already be on the road. (Regular
PFD sessions are at the ministerial level.) This special
Wednesday meeting could substitute for the usual PFD session
with the U.S. on Thursday p.m., if the U.S. so wishes.
Query re U.S. setting up regular dialogue with Pacific
-------------- --------------
3. (U) The PIF is open to U.S. suggestions for the agenda of
a special meeting, though Urwin noted one topic would
undoubtedly be the Forum leader's interest in establishing a
routine, periodic dialogue with the U.S. beyond the PIF
setting, something akin to mechanisms Japan, China, and
France have set up, and the EU is contemplating. The Forum
sees the U.S. as the only "core" partner without such a
mechanism. Urwin said Forum leaders would be open to
discussing the appropriate level for such meetings, whatever
is most useful. Such meetings might be at the "officials"
level. (The mechanisms with Japan, China, and France are at
"head of government" level, and routinely take place every
two-three years.)
Other agendas: regional security, JCC
--------------
4. (U) McGann signaled tentative USG acceptance of the offer
of a special USG session with PIF leaders for this year,
pending further clarification of A/S Hill's schedule. McGann
added that a useful topic for the session could be mutual
U.S.-Pacific interests in regional security and how best to
ensure operational effectiveness for security enhancements.
PIF reorganization and regional donor coordination, McGann
noted, would also be priority issues. Urwin noted that the
future of the Joint Commercial Commission (JCC) would also
surely be of interest.
Comment and action request
--------------
4. (SBU) This offer of a special two-hour session for A/S
Hill with some of the Pacific heads of government strikes us
as a really good idea, if A/S Hill's schedule permits. The
offer is a compliment. It is also an opportunity for A/S
Hill and regional leaders to have a meaty discussion of
mutual interests. The desire of Pacific leaders to have the
U.S. initiate a new, regular dialogue with the region,
outside the PIF formula, may be a way of testing how intense
U.S. interest in accenting Pacific engagement really is. If
it could be negotiated to routinely take place at an
appropriate "senior officials" level, with occasional
sessions at still higher levels, it would, indeed, be a fine
signal of U.S. engagement and an opportunity to canvass the
range of mutual interests in a setting more amenable than the
PFD sessions to date. Given the proposal (ref) to turn the
regular PFD into a plenary of all partners, with no separate
U.S. session, a routine mechanism for our specific issues
with the region could prove useful.
5. (U) Please provide a response ASAP on A/S Hill's
availability to participate in the offer of a Wednesday, Oct.
25, PIF session. Thanks.
DINGER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC OVIP PIF XV
SUBJECT: PACIFIC FORUM POST-FORUM DIALOGUE - PROPOSAL FOR
USG 2006 PARTICIPATION
REF: SUVA 350
Post-Forum Dialogue schedule change
--------------
1. (U) When EAP/ANP Director Steven McGann visited the
Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Secretariat on Sept. 6, PIF
Secretary General Greg Urwin elaborated on current plans for
SIPDIS
the annual Forum meetings, now to be held in Nadi, Fiji. The
schedule has been condensed, with the Forum meetings
themselves running from Monday, Oct. 23, to Wednesday, Oct
25, followed by the Post-Forum Dialogues (PFD) beginning with
a plenary session in late morning Thursday, Oct. 26, and
individual partner dialogues continuing through Friday, Oct.
27. The U.S. PFD session is currently scheduled for 2:30
p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26.
New option for A/S Hill's participation
--------------
2. (U) Urwin offered a new option for U.S. Forum
participation this year. The PIF is excited about EAP A/S
Hill's intention to attend. Urwin has heard interest from
several Pacific leaders in having a special, up to two-hour
session with A/S Hill at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15. At least
some of the Forum heads of government would participate,
though others would likely already be on the road. (Regular
PFD sessions are at the ministerial level.) This special
Wednesday meeting could substitute for the usual PFD session
with the U.S. on Thursday p.m., if the U.S. so wishes.
Query re U.S. setting up regular dialogue with Pacific
-------------- --------------
3. (U) The PIF is open to U.S. suggestions for the agenda of
a special meeting, though Urwin noted one topic would
undoubtedly be the Forum leader's interest in establishing a
routine, periodic dialogue with the U.S. beyond the PIF
setting, something akin to mechanisms Japan, China, and
France have set up, and the EU is contemplating. The Forum
sees the U.S. as the only "core" partner without such a
mechanism. Urwin said Forum leaders would be open to
discussing the appropriate level for such meetings, whatever
is most useful. Such meetings might be at the "officials"
level. (The mechanisms with Japan, China, and France are at
"head of government" level, and routinely take place every
two-three years.)
Other agendas: regional security, JCC
--------------
4. (U) McGann signaled tentative USG acceptance of the offer
of a special USG session with PIF leaders for this year,
pending further clarification of A/S Hill's schedule. McGann
added that a useful topic for the session could be mutual
U.S.-Pacific interests in regional security and how best to
ensure operational effectiveness for security enhancements.
PIF reorganization and regional donor coordination, McGann
noted, would also be priority issues. Urwin noted that the
future of the Joint Commercial Commission (JCC) would also
surely be of interest.
Comment and action request
--------------
4. (SBU) This offer of a special two-hour session for A/S
Hill with some of the Pacific heads of government strikes us
as a really good idea, if A/S Hill's schedule permits. The
offer is a compliment. It is also an opportunity for A/S
Hill and regional leaders to have a meaty discussion of
mutual interests. The desire of Pacific leaders to have the
U.S. initiate a new, regular dialogue with the region,
outside the PIF formula, may be a way of testing how intense
U.S. interest in accenting Pacific engagement really is. If
it could be negotiated to routinely take place at an
appropriate "senior officials" level, with occasional
sessions at still higher levels, it would, indeed, be a fine
signal of U.S. engagement and an opportunity to canvass the
range of mutual interests in a setting more amenable than the
PFD sessions to date. Given the proposal (ref) to turn the
regular PFD into a plenary of all partners, with no separate
U.S. session, a routine mechanism for our specific issues
with the region could prove useful.
5. (U) Please provide a response ASAP on A/S Hill's
availability to participate in the offer of a Wednesday, Oct.
25, PIF session. Thanks.
DINGER