The Governments of Australia and New Zealand will be financing the implementation of the newly amended Suva Agreement which was signed by all Forum members in Fiji on Friday evening including Kiribati. 

It has been confirmed that the two major Pacific partners will collectively provide funding of AU$4 million dollars to implement the initiatives within the Suva Agreement for the next three years. 

At the conclusion of the 5th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Special Retreat on Friday, leaders have agreed the handover of the chairmanship role from the Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown. 

Other new initiatives or topics agreed on by the Forum family on Friday included the appointment of Dr Filimon Manoni, a nominee of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as the Pacific Ocean Commissioner. 

The leaders also agreed to the establishment of a Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific Islands Forum in the Republic of Kiribati. 

Furthermore, they also endorsed the establishment of a stand-alone Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner in the Republic of Palau. 

As the outgoing Chair and Host of the P.I.F.s Leaders Special Retreat, Former Chair Mr. Rabuka said the special gathering was an opportunity to connect and rekindle many regional relationships. 

"It was also an opportunity for Fiji to showcase again the warmth and hospitality that our Fijian people are renowned for, the world over.

"Our gathering as Forum Leaders here in Denarau was framed under the theme Reflection, Renewal, Celebration.

 "We have reflected on what it means to be a Forum Family and the importance of protecting our own solidarity and we have renewed our collective commitment to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

 "On the matter of the planned release by the Government of Japan on the ALPS-treated water, Forum Leaders reaffirmed the importance of science and data to guide the political decisions on the proposed discharge."

The meeting also discussed a range of specific country initiatives that were tabled by Leaders, including: the Regional Seasonal Workers Scheme, Australia’s bid to host COP 31 in partnership with the Pacific region, an update on the Draft Resolution to the UNGA, seeking an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change and Solomon Islands imminent graduation from Least Developed Country Status.

The Suva Agreement was signed mid last year as the best possible resolution to the quarrel created by the appointment of Henry Puna as the Forum secretary general.

The Micronesian states were disappointed because a gentleman’s agreement to have one of their own as the secretary general was not upheld. This led to the Micronesian bloc agreeing to vote for withdrawal from the Forum.

But before the voting could happen, the Forum chair and other states convened in Suva in June and persuaded the Micronesian bloc to stay on after making concrete agreements about the leadership of the Forum. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa was part of this meeting as she was present in Fiji for the meeting and to open the new High Commission in Suva.

This deal included the next secretary general to be from Micronesia, the term of the secretary general extended to five years, a separate office for the Ocean’s Commissioner to be set up in a Micronesian state and appointment of two deputy secretary generals so the three Pacific blocs are represented.

Kiribati was not present when the initial agreement was signed and a month later left the Forum on the eve of the Pacific Island Leaders Forum in Suva.