AUSTRALIAN PLANS FOR POST FORUM DIALOGUE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000668 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN PLANS FOR POST FORUM DIALOGUE REF: A. CANBERRA 637 ¶B. SUVA 299 CANBERRA 00000668 001.3 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Australian PM Kevin Rudd will personally chair the Post Forum Dialogue (PFD) August 7 that will follow the August 5-6 meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Cairns (reftels). Recognizing that previous PFDs have been too heavy on scripted interventions and short on substance, Rudd seeks to reinvigorate the PFD by having a genuine dialogue focusing on the impact of the global economic crisis on Pacific Island states, with emphasis on better coordination of assistance while avoiding excessive focus on Fiji. Australia is strongly encouraging the highest possible level of participation from PFD members and will work to ensure that PIF leaders will participate in the PFD. India's Foreign Minister will attend and Indonesia's Foreign Minister is also likely to come. Australia is delighted that EAP Assistant Secretary Campbell will attend. End Summary Reinvigorate the PFD -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Australian National Security Advisor Duncan Lewis and DFAT Deputy Secretary David Ritchie briefed representative of PFD Embassies July 17 on Australian plans for the PFD. Lewis said that PM Rudd wants to revitalize the PFD and is determined to get substantive results from the August 7 meeting. The theme will be "Vulnerability and Building Resiliance in the Face of the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis," with an emphasis on helping Pacific Island states and to better coordinate assistance. Australia expects the discussion to also touch on climate change and its impact on the region, though this is likely to be less central a focus than originally planned. Australia strongly encourages senior level participation from all PFD members and expects delegation heads to be present for the meeting, which PM Rudd will chair from about 0900 to 1300 on August 7. In addition to the PIF leaders and the heads of the PFD delegations, Australia is pushing for senior representation from international financial institutions (IFIs). Asian Development Bank President Kuroda will attend and make a presentation, as will World Bank Vice President Jim Adams. India's Foreign Minister has confirmed attendence and Indonesian Foreign Minister Wiranta has signaled that he is likely to attend, as has a Canadian Parliamentary Secretary and PRC Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. Structure -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The PM will open the PFD by briefing on the results of the PIF. IFI representatives will then make short presentations. Following these presentations, Rudd will lead a discussion at which Australia strongly discourages use of written interventions. Any delegation leader feeling the need to make a prepared intervention should table the remarks ahead of time so that they can be circulated, according to Lewis. Rudd is looking for genuine discussion and debate, QLewis. Rudd is looking for genuine discussion and debate, including questions of how to get better coordination between donors as well as between recipients. Australian FM Smith will also be present and will host a lunch for all Foreign Ministers attending the PIF/PFD on August 6. Don't Let Fiji Dominate -------------- CANBERRA 00000668 002.3 OF 002 ¶4. (SBU) Lewis and Ritchie emphasized that Australia is determined to avoid having Fiji dominate either the PIF or the PFD. Ritchie said he had just returned from visiting PIF members and that all support the idea of making the PFD more effective, that the Pacific Island leaders are all preoccupied with the impact of the global downturn on their already more vulnerable economies and all look forward to a substantive discussion. When asked about the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Ritchie said that it was important to look closely at what they actually said. He said that the statement did not say that they want to lift Fiji's suspension from the PIF and that it is also important to remember that they represent three out of 15 PIF members. Ritchie added the PIF leaders agree on the importance of not letting Fiji dominate the discussions and recognize the importance of addressing assistance issues. The leaders accept that while there is a lot of donor assistance on a per capita basis, it is often quite fragmented, difficult to manage and very vulnerable to cutbacks in the wake of the global slowdown. Australia Welcomes A/S Campbell -------------- ¶5. (SBU) After the meeting, Econcouns spoke briefly with National Security Advisor Lewis, who stressed that Australia is delighted that A/S Campbell will attend the PFD and looks forward to good bilateral meetings. CLUNE