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Former FSM Vice President joins observers of Solomon Elections

Palikir, POHNPEI (PIF/PINA/FSMIS): November 30, 2001 - Former Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Dr. Hiroshi Ismael, is in the Solomon Islands as an Election Observer for the country's upcoming elections on December 5.

Ismael joins other members from the Pacific Islands Forum on this first ever Election Observer Group that will monitor Solomon Island's general elections.

"This is an historic occasion for the Pacific Islands Forum, and shows how the Forum family evolves to cater for the needs of its members," said the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Noel Levi,CBE.

This election follows two consecutive years of ethnic unrest in the Solomon Islands which eventually led to last year's coup in Honiara.

The Forum Observers have the following Terms of Reference:

• The Forum Observer Group is established by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General in response to an invitation from the Solomon Islands Government.

• Its role is to observe relevant aspects of the organisation and conduct of the Solomon Islands elections in accordance with the Solomon Islands laws.

• The Group is to act impartially and independently. Its function is not to execute, supervise, or advise but specifically confined to observing the process of the elections.

• The Group is to submit a report directly to the Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat.

"It's an example of how we can implement the spirit of the Biketawa Declaration on security cooperation, which Forum members adopted in 2000," Levi said.

The Observers will be assisted by a team from the Forum Secretariat.

The Forum Observer Group will be chaired by Samoa's Ombudsman, Mr Maiava Iulai Toma. Other members are the Director of Health Services, and Justice Catherine Davani from the Papua New Guinea judiciary.