President Mori embarks to PNG for Pacific Leaders Meeting

President Mori has begun a trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to attend a special convening of Pacific Leaders.

As a decision that came out of the Pacific African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) meeting the end of August, 2012 in Rarotonga, it was agreed that PNG would host this special gathering to address PACP matters relating to ongoing negotiations with the European Union.

At the ACP meeting in Rarotonga, Leaders decided to defer matters regarding to Fiji's participation at Pacific ACP meetings to the upcoming PNG-hosted gathering.

As the meetings in Rarotonga were primarily set for the Pacific Islands Forum, Fiji did not attend per temporary exclusion from PIF affairs until the government recommits to parliamentary democracy.

Additionally, Pacific Leaders also directed the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the University of the South Pacific (USP) to present an analysis on sound options for submarine cable connectivity for Pacific Islands at the meeting.

President Mori will return on or about November 24.

Marz Akapito at markapito@gmail.com or fsmpio@mail.fm.