Pacific Unity Priority in Samoa – Australia Talks

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 02 JUNE 2022: One of the priority issues in the talks between Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong in Apia today was the unity of the Pacific Region.

The issue was later raised at a joint press conference where reference was made to last week’s visit by the People’s Republic of China’s Foreign Minister, taking a direct approach to Pacific governments where agreements were signed.

“We have taken the view that regional security is an issue for the Pacific family and what sovereign nations do are sovereign, but ultimately had the potential to affect the nature of the security arrangement of the region,” said Penny Wong.

“Having a collective consideration of those matters is important,” she said.

She also commended Fiamē on her leadership and stance on the regional process in dealing with some of the external circumstances they find themselves in.

Samoa hosted the Chinese delegation last weekend and Fiamē said the documents that were signed were the formalization of projects agreed upon some years back.

“The signing that took place here were bilateral projects started some years ago and it was the formalizing process which is normal, but just seemed a bit abnormal because the Foreign Minister was here and there was a particular proposal that they were seeking a regional agreement on,” said Fiamē.

“Samoa’s position is you cannot have a regional agreement when the region has not met to discuss it and to be called in to have that discussion and have an expectation that there would be a comprehensive decision or outcome to something we could not agree to,” she explained.

Fiamē said the region has come to that conclusion to meet as a region to consider any proposal put to them by their development partners that requires a regional agreement.

 ‘Tautua – Human Development for All’
Minister Wong was pleased to announce a new eight-year partnership between Australia and Samoa to address its human development and social inclusion priorities. This new partnership, ‘Tautua – Human Development for All’, will seek to foster collective action in health, education, gender, disability and social protection, addressing areas most critical to Samoa.

New Guardian Class Patrol Boat
Building on a 30-year partnership in maritime security, Australia was also pleased to strengthen its support for Samoa’s management of its precious oceans through the provision of a new Guardian Class Patrol Boat. The new vessel will be delivered within the next 12 months. In support of the regional Boe Declaration, this will help Samoa to respond to increasingly complex threats in the region, including transnational crime and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Minister Wong met with representatives of Samoa’s Cabinet and private sector and community leaders to hear Samoa’s aspirations for its future and ways we can work together to ensure our Blue Pacific remains strong and prosperous. “She listened to the challenges and successes for Samoan families under Australia’s labour mobility programs and undertook to ensure settings continue to be of mutual benefit to Samoa and Australia.” As a close friend and partner, Minister Wong offered Australia’s warm congratulations to the people of Samoa in celebrating 60 years of independence on 1 June.

Prime Minister Fiamē welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to address the climate crisis and listen to the concerns of our Pacific family.

Minister Wong said she hoped this visit would be the first of many during her time as Foreign Minister. Prime Minister Fiamē wished her well in her new role, and looked forward to working closely together as members of the Pacific family.