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FSM and Australia hold review talks on Pacific Partnership for Development Agreement

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): May 3, 2012 - A review talks was held on April 30, 2012 on the Pacific Partnership for Development (PP4D) between the Federated States of Micronesia and Australia, over a year after the agreement on the bilateral partnership was signed by the two governments at the margins of the Port Vila Forum in 2010. The PP4D is a development partnership between FSM and Australia which establishes their shared vision to work together in close cooperation to meet their common development challenges and raise the standard of living for the people of the FSM. It also outlines the principles and objectives underpinning the partnership that is to advance along three priority outcome areas in environmental management, fiscal reform and economic management, with special focus on tax reform and development coordination.

Heading the FSM delegation was The Honorable Vice President Alik L. Alik with staff representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Emergency and Environmental Management (OEEM), Statistics, Budget, Overseas Development Assistance and Compact Management (SBOC) and the Department of Finance and Administration.

His Excellency Ambassador Martin Quinn headed the Australian delegation, along with some of his staff, and joined by the Director of Polynesia and Micronesia Section of AusAID, Nic Notarpietro, AusAID Project Manager Erin Mgee and Sonia Gray from Australian Foreign Affairs who traveled to Pohnpei to join the talks.

The review opened with remarks from the heads of delegation, after the meeting selected the Vice President as the Chairman of the talks. In his remarks, Vice President Alik welcomed everyone participating in the review session with special welcome to the members of the Australian delegation who traveled long distance to attend the review. The Vice President commended Australia for the innovative development partnership that is in line with international efforts to ensure greater development aid coordination and effectiveness between donor and recipient countries. He expressed his appreciation for the substantial progress already being made with the provision of PACTAM experts and volunteers from Australia to assist the three national entities whose priority areas comprised the first implementation phase of the partnership.

Vice President Alik noted the dynamic and close nature of the partnership and expressed his confidence in its success as it is based on shared vision and principles of mutual respect and responsibility. The Vice President also took the opportunity to thank the Australian Government for the assistance provided through the development partnership, with specific thanks to the AusAID officials and the technical experts for the substantive professional contributions they have made to the FSM.

The first review talks under the PP4D went well with both sides pledging to work closely and to accelerate their efforts in providing assistance where needed.