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Nauru President David Adeang attends the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. August 25, 2024
photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
Nauru President David Adeang is pleased to see the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) remain united despite differences of opinion.
Last year, Adeang and his delegation abruptly walked out of a Pacific Islands Forum plenary meeting amid questions about the appointment of the current secretary-general, former Nauru president Baron Waqa.
“I am glad to see the forum remains united even though different countries obviously hold different positions on certain issues,” Adeang told New Zealand’s Pacific Radio in Vava’u on Thursday.
“Everyone has made a huge effort to stay united and compromise wherever possible,” he said.
He also said he hoped the Pacific Islands Forum Troika (leaders of Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tonga) would visit New Caledonia before the Tongan leaders’ meeting this week.
Adeang said he sympathized with the Kanak people and hoped forum members would help them find a way forward.
“This is not an ideal situation for New Caledonia,” he said.
“We regret that the Troika cannot make the visit but we are in the process of trying to involve the forum to see how we can help.”
Nauru President David Adeang (left) and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown attend the opening ceremony of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting. August 26, 2024
photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
He also hopes that more and more countries will contribute to the Pacific Resilience Fund (PRF).
The fund was established by Pacific leaders to make climate finance more accessible to Pacific island countries for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and early disaster response projects.
Tonga will now host the fund.
Adeang said his country would donate A$1 million over the next five years, a symbolic gesture but a significant sum for his small nation.
“We are glad to contribute in a small way to show our support for the facility and perhaps point the way for others to contribute more.”
At home, Adeang said he plans to use the 2026 Micronesian Games, to be hosted by Nauru, to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with unhealthy lifestyles such as diabetes.
“(These) statistics are well-known in Nauru but we don’t want to be known for them in the future.
“We want to use the Micronesian Games as a platform to bring about change within our population.”
He also said the country was hit hard by high inflation.
“We have some of the most expensive ocean freight rates in the world and we are using the little we can to provide what we call targeted temporary cash transfers to people.”
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