This week the Minister for Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation Ratu Inoke Kubuabola addressed the G7 High Level Ministerial Breakfast Meeting on "Putting Peace at the Heart of Sustainable Development", held at the United Nations in New York.
The event was organised by the Governments of Timor Leste, Denmark, and South Sudan under the banner of the g7.
In his remarks, Minister Kubuabola briefed the meeting on the establishment of the Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF): "PIDF was borne out of a desire by the People of the Pacific to create for themselves a space where they can meet with all their representatives to discuss the future they want."
"Following the Rio+20 meeting, the leaders of the Pacific met in Nadi Fiji in August 2012 at the Engaging With The Pacific meeting and decided to convene a new multi-stakeholder platform for action on the sustainable development and Green Economy. This new platform was called the Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF)."
Minister Kubuabola further explained: "The leaders of the Pacific agreed that all expertise and resources were to be made available to address the complex but inter-related development challenges facing the Pacific region. Furthermore, the leaders called for a united front in addressing sustainable development in the Pacific region."
"Mr Chairman, the PIDF is open to all the 23 islands of the Pacific whether dependent territories or independent states. It's membership is open to all sectors: public sector, private sector, and civil society groups in the Pacific."
"Its focus is solely on integrating green economic policies into Development strategies of the Pacific Small Island Developing States and territories. Our Leaders agreed that whilst economic growth was needed, this growth had to be socially inclusive, environmentally friendly and not endanger the ability of our future generations to pursue their own development aspirations."
Looking forward to the High Level Political Forum that will be launched by the United Nations during the current session of the UN General Assembly Minister Kubuabola stated:
"...the PIDF is the Pacific's only participatory and inclusive, multi-stakeholder platform for action on the green economy and sustainable development."
"More importantly the PIDF is the Pacific's only South-South development cooperation Organisation and as such is well positioned to be the regional link for the High Level Political Forum set to be launched during this Session of the UN General Assembly."
Speaking on the outcomes of the inaugural meeting of the PIDF and the establishment of the PIDF Secretariat Minister Kubuabola explained:
"At the inaugural PIDF in Nadi last August over 300 participants from 44 nations attended of which 14 were from the Pacific. The theme for our meeting was, "Leadership, Innovation and Partnership for Green/Blue Pacific Economies".
"The meeting agreed to focus on ten critical issues in the next few years to bring in green economic policies in the Pacific. These include Inclusive Leadership, A Whole of Society approach to Heath, prioritizing the valuation of our Pacific Common and Collective, long term financing that support our communities on the management of our natural resources. The meeting also agreed to established a permanent Secretariat in Suva. Work on establishing the Secretariat is now well underway in Suva with its formal opening expected early next year."
Concluding his remarks Minister Kubuabola reemphasized the ground breaking and empowering impact of the PIDF:
"The People of the Pacific through the PIDF are giving voices to those whose voices have not been heard before. Through this Forum we bring accountability and transparency to our decision making processes. With our inclusive and participatory format we ensure that the hopes and aspirations of all our People are honored and respected. This is the only way we can ensure a future for our People that is not only sustainable but also peaceful."
Present with Minister Kubuabola were representatives of the PIDF Mr Feiloakitau Tevi and Mr Penijamini RT Lomaloma who were invited to the meeting by the Government of Timor Leste.
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