[ad_1]
Author: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
Palau Koror – Today marks the closing ceremony of the 4th Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group (PIPG) Conference, which was held in Palau on Wednesday. This year’s event is particularly significant as it is the first time that both the PIPG and the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) have been held simultaneously in the same country.
Both meetings were attended by speakers and legislators from the North and South Pacific regions, who are members of both organizations.
APIL held its 41st General Assembly on Monday and Tuesday, prior to the PIPG meeting. Since then, APIL members have remained in Palau to attend PIPG meetings as observers. Palau is the only Micronesian member of PIPG and a founding member of APIL, making this unique arrangement possible.
The theme of the conference was “Human Development in Oceania: How can legislatures strengthen people-centred security for Pacific Islanders? Current status and future prospects for food security, economic security, cybersecurity and other human development indicators”.
A range of critical issues facing Pacific Island nations, including food security, cybersecurity, gender-based violence and illicit drug trafficking, were discussed at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting that concluded today, with speakers from universities, colleges and key regional organisations from the North and South Pacific sharing their insights.
In his opening remarks, President Surangel Whipps stressed the importance of unity among Pacific nations. “The Pacific is one and we must all work together as one. Our collective strength and solidarity are essential in facing challenges and striving for sustainable development,” he said.
This year’s keynote speaker at the Pacific Islands Forum Conference was Dr. Robert Underwood, President Emeritus of the University of Guam and former U.S. Congressman, who stressed the resilience of Pacific Island nations to external influences and their right to make independent decisions about their human security and dignity.
“Climate change is a shared issue across the Pacific,” Dr Underwood told The Island Times. He added: “I want to emphasise that Pacific islands have the right to reject any policy that makes them uncomfortable, whether it’s in relation to diplomacy, investment or military activity.”
When asked about Palau’s role in the wider geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific, especially with increased military activity, Dr. Underwood commented on the strategic interests of the U.S. military. “They are developing Palau to protect their military assets in Guam,” he said, noting that while a military base may not be built, Palau is building alternate airfields, including on Peleliu and Yap, to relocate assets in the event of an attack or war on Guam.
Both PIPG and APIL are organizations composed of legislative bodies from both sides of the Pacific Ocean. PIPG mainly includes South Pacific countries, while APIL is an older organization composed mainly of North Pacific countries.
Related
[ad_2]
Source link
