PIF OFFICIALS DISCUSS RESTRUCTURING PACIFIC ISLAND

UNCLAS SUVA 000418 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV XV XU SUBJECT: PIF OFFICIALS DISCUSS RESTRUCTURING PACIFIC ISLAND INSTITUTIONS REF: A. SECSTATE 164540 ¶B. SUVA 341 ¶1. (SBU) Charge passed Ref A points to Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) SIPDIS Secretariat October 2. Charge also passed the points to SIPDIS Jimmie Rodgers, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). Urwin had no immediate comment. Rodgers told Charge he agreed with many of our points, especially the need for a thorough legal analysis of the proposal to consolidate all regional technical organizations and expand SPC's mandate and authority. ¶2. (SBU) A representative of the experts' group tasked with reviewing the restructuring proposal made a presentation to the Forum Officials Committee (FOC) October 4, followed by a lengthy question and answer session. The FOC meeting was attended by representatives of PIF member countries only, plus relevant organizations such as the SPC. Representatives who attended told us that although there is wide support in the FOC for restructuring regional organizations, far more consultation is needed, including with non-PIF members. A PIF Secretariat official said virtually every concern mentioned in the U.S. talking points was independently brought up by FOC members during the course of the discussion. ¶3. (SBU) The relevant section of the FOC report to leaders approved late October 4 states as follows: "A range of views was expressed in the Committee on the Review (of the regional institutional framework). Some delegates were supportive of the recommendations although others expressed reservations. It was suggested that further analysis was needed on issues such as legal, including treaty implications, governance structures, delivery of programmes and membership. Should Leaders agree to some or all of the recommendations, these issues could be considered by a task force comprising of members." The summary "recommendations" document from the FOC makes the following statement: "The Committee: a) noted the recommendations of the Regional Institutional Framework Review; b) expressed a range of views on the review including concerns by some members of the Committee with some recommendations of the Review; and c) sought the guidance of Leaders on how they wish the Review to proceed." ¶4. (SBU) The SPC's Jimmie Rodgers told Charge October 5 he was satisfied with the outcome of the FOC. Clearly, more research, discussion and consultation is needed before any concrete steps to consolidate regional organizations can take place. He said the consolidation proposal would be a major topic of discussion during the November SPC Meeting of the Committee of Representatives (CRGA) in Noumea. MANN