Joint Media Statement on the 11th Southwest Pacific Dialogue Brunei Darussalam, 1 July 2013 1. The 11th Southwest Pacific Dialogue (SwPD) meeting was held in Brunei Darussalam on 1 July 2013, at the margins of the 46th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Post Ministerial Conference, 20th ASEAN Regional Forum and 3rd East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. 2. Hon Albert F. del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines chaired the meeting. In attendance were Hon Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia; H.E. Dr. Marty Natalegawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia; Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; H.E. José Luís Guterres, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor Leste; and H.E. Veali Vagi, High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea. 3. Ministers underlined that the SwPD continues to be a relevant forum for open and friendly dialogue on issues of mutual and regional concern. They discussed the recent developments in the Southwest Pacific region and exchanged views on various areas of cooperation, specifically on marine ecotourism, development cooperation, the sustainable use of fisheries resources and connectivity. 4. Ministers noted the potential for cooperation on marine ecotourism, which would not only highlight the region’s biodiversity and natural heritage but also help protect the common marine environment of SwPD countries by providing local communities an environmentally sustainable livelihood and enhancing their role in marine cooperation and conservation. They expressed their support for projects promoting marine ecotourism in the region, including those under the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF). 5. Ministers highlighted the importance of the sustainable use of marine resources to ensure food security and the continued economic development, prosperity, and well-being of coastal communities of SwPD countries and the region as a whole. Ministers welcomed the initiative to share information on maritime issues and agreed to make concerted efforts to conduct maritime surveillance in order to detect and deter illegal fishing activities in the sea. They recognised the need to increase cooperation efforts and capacities of SwPD countries to prevent illegal fishing activities. They agreed to work together to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through strong support for the Regional Action Plan to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in South East Asia (RPOA-IUU) and accession to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. 6. Ministers reiterated their concern over the serious impact of climate change on coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. Ministers agreed that immediate and collective action must be taken for the protection of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems for the continued economic development and well-being of the people. Ministers reiterated their support for the work of the CTI-CFF on protecting the marine ecosystem and sustainable livelihoods. 7. Ministers discussed recent improvements in development cooperation in the Pacific, in particular the pre-eminent role of the Pacific Islands Forum Compact on Strengthening Development Cooperation in the Pacific. They noted that the Compact had improved development cooperation through adoption of common policy reform programs, increased cooperation and joint projects, and planned peer reviews of member countries’ national development planning and budget processes. Ministers encouraged all donors working in the Pacific and Pacific partner countries to adhere to Compact principles. 8. Ministers recognized the importance of developing synergy between the SwPD and other regional institutions, such as APEC and ASEAN on developing connectivity. Ministers underscored the need to promote greater interactions among the peoples and involve the private sector in building linkages and connectivity in the region. 9. Ministers noted the innovative approaches to partnerships and coordination in the region, such as the co-hosting by New Zealand and European Union of the Pacific Energy Summit in Auckland in March 2013, which brought together donors, private sector representatives and Pacific Island countries to advance renewable energy projects across the Pacific; the formation of the trilateral Water Partnership among New Zealand, China, and the Cook Islands to upgrade water supply infrastructure; and the close collaboration between Australia and New Zealand in administering and funding for development cooperation projects in Cook Islands and Nauru. 10. Ministers commended the successful convening of the 5th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) held on 8-9 November 2012, and the participation of SwPD members. They underscored the role of the BDF in contributing to the development of democracy in the region. Ministers expressed support to the holding of the 6th BDF that will be held on 7-8 November 2013, under the theme of “Consolidating Democracy in a Pluralistic Society”. 11. Ministers welcomed recent positive steps in Fiji to return to democracy, including the registration of four opposition political parties. Ministers urged continued engagement between Fiji and the Pacific Islands Forum, the Commonwealth and the UN to support the further steps necessary for an election credible to the people of Fiji and the international community. 12. Ministers thanked the Government of the Philippines for chairing and hosting the 11th SwPD meeting and welcomed the offer from Timor-Leste to host the 12th SWPD in 2014 in Myanmar, in the margins of the 47th AMM, PMC and 21st ARF.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 10:34:13 +0000
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