Readout of Secretary-General's meeting with Pacific Island Forum Leaders

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met today with the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum and the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on the margins of the general debate of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary-General and the President of Palau, H.E. Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., who is the current Chair of the Forum.

The Secretary-General recalled his recent visit to the region and his participation in the Third Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Apia, Samoa. Leaders and the Secretary-General stressed the importance of the implementation of the Samoa Pathway. The Secretary-General reassured the Forum Leaders that the UN system would work as one to engage in the implementation of the commitments made during the SIDS conference.

Leaders reaffirmed their support to conclude a universal and meaningful, climate agreement next year and their commitment to raise their voices in the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Lima in 2014 and Paris in 2015.

They also discussed the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda. The UN General Assembly’s adoption of the report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals was welcomed. Pacific countries appreciated the stand-alone goal on oceans and sea, as well as the goals related to sustainable development and climate change. The Secretary-General took note of the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration and the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and encouraged leaders to strengthen efforts to improve women’s political participation and economic empowerment and to eliminate violence against women.

The President of Palau concluded the meeting by stressing that the Pacific countries would continue to think of the United Nations as a critical partner to move their agenda forward.

A joint statement by the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations is expected to be issued soon, building upon the 2011 and 2012 statements between the two Organisations.