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Japan Provides Funds for Forum Secretariat Activities

The Government of Japan has provided US$260,000 to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, as Japan's annual contribution for the fiscal year 2004. The Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Kenro Iino, handed over the funds to the Acting Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Mr Iosefa Maiava, during a brief ceremony at the Secretariat on 19 January 2005.

The funds are part of Japan's on-going annual support to the Secretariat and indication of Japan's growing commitment to development efforts in the South Pacific region. This commitment was reaffirmed by Japan's Prime Minister, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi during the third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit meeting held in Okinawa in May 2003.

The Japanese Government has always held in high esteem the role of the Secretariat, and the Embassy of Japan in Fiji will maintain its commitment to the activities of the PIF. The Embassy assures the Secretariat that the Government of Japan will try its best to continue to extend its maximum support and assistance to the PIF in the years ahead.
Thank you.

Speech by Mr. Kenro Iino, Ambassador of the Embassy of Japan on the occasion of the Handing-over of Japan’s Annual Budgetary Contribution for the Year 2004 to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
19January 2005

The Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Mr. Maiava, Officials of the Forum Secretariat

It is my pleasure to visit the Forum office this morning to officially hand over a sum of 260,000 US dollars, which is Japan’s annual contribution to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for the fiscal year 2004. This contribution is testimony to the great value and support that Japan has for the role that the Forum plays in the South Pacific Region.

As a regional organization, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is essentially the international voice for the small Pacific Island nations. With the new environmental, political and economic upheavals and challenges faced by these islands, the Forum plays a significant role in terms of facilitating, promoting and expediting international understanding, dialogue and assistance.

In the third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting, which took place in Okinawa in 2003, Japan’s Prime Minister, Honourable Koizumi reaffirmed Japan’s concrete commitment to the achievement of the five targets in the Pacific, which include :

• Enhanced Security in the Pacific Region;
• A Safer and More Sustainable Environment;
• Improved Education and Human Resources Development;
• Better Health; and
• More Robust and Sustained Trade and Economic Growth.

I am quite confident that this is an enormous challenge for Japan and for its Pacific Islands partner countries, and look forward to the PIF Secretariat playing a leading, facilitating and coordinating role in the achievement of these five targets.

The Japanese Government has always held in high esteem the role of the Secretariat and through our Embassy in Fiji, we strive to maintain our commitment to the activities of the PIF. In handing over Japan’s contribution for 2004, I assure you that the Government of Japan will continue to extend its maximum support and assistance to the PIF in the years ahead.

Thank you.