12th ECM ON RAMSI UNDERWAY IN HONIARA

The Pacific Islands Forum’s Enhanced Consultative Mechanism (ECM) on the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) 12th Meeting is underway in Honiara.

Prior to this meeting, the ECM toured RAMSI facilities and RAMSI supported operations and programmes.

The ECM was established by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2006 as a high level reference group to discuss the progress and broad policy direction for RAMSI.

A statement by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says the ECM has provided regional oversight of RAMSI as well as support to the evolution of the mission in response to the changing situation in the Solomon Islands.

Chair of the ECM and the Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Fred Yakasa says this meeting is significant to discuss important issues relating to the drawdown and conclusion of RAMSI.

Meanwhile, the Forum Deputy Secretary General Andie Fong Toy noted that a key related issue of the drawdown is supporting the transition of important functions and operations to bilateral arrangements.

Toy adds, to ensure the sustainability of all RAMSI’s achievements to date are as important as the achievements themselves.

The statement says the ECM is anticipated to meet for the last time next year as RAMSI will conclude its operations by July 2017.