Over a bitter leadership challenge, the Pacific’s topmost regional body could be on the brink of a break, crushing political harmony across the enormous region which can cause a severe foreign policy challenge to the Australian Government. The leaders from the Micronesian nations are scheduled to meet today, in order to decide if they should remain in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Former Cook Island’s Prime Minister Henry Puna got voted as the new Secretary General of PIF by defeating Marshal Island’s Gerald Zackios by one vote (9-8). Zackios was supported by five nations from Micronesia. The voting took place last week.
While the Micronesian leaders are very disappointed at the result, they have insisted that as per “a gentleman’s agreement” it was their turn to appoint a new Secretary General. This being said, Micronesian leaders had previously declared that, in the even Mr. Zackios was not successful they would leave the PIF.
Late last week, the nation of Palau followed through, announcing it was quitting the body and shutting its embassy in Fiji. The nation of Palau announced last week that it was resigning from the PIF and shutting its embassy in Fiji. Palau hoping other Micronesian nations quit PIF
Palau’s President Surangel Whipps told the ABC that Polynesian and Melanesian nations had “divided” the Pacific by refusing to make way for Mr Zackios.
“The most important thing for any organisations is trust and integrity and when you’ve lost that it’s hard to bring people together,” he said. “I am just following through with the commitments in the communique Micronesian leaders put forth.”
Mr Whipps said he hoped Monday’s meeting would see the four other Micronesian nations in the PIF join Palau and formally exit the body. “I will let [the other leaders] know that I’m honoring our commitments and doing what was asked,” he said. “I would hope we are all together on this. Because that’s what was said.”
