Atoms, oil and ships

in Forum business

After the popular excitement generated by the New Caledonia resolution at the South Pacific Forum (see de tailed report on previous page), the remainder of the forum meeting was something of an anti-climax. In the end, this was the work they did: • The Forum resolved to stand together in opposition to nuclear weapons testing or nu clear waste dumping in the Pacific, and to reject separate approaches from France, Japan or the US on these matters. • Supported the Solomon Islands decision not to allow the Soviet vessel R. V. Callisto to conduct a geophysical and oceanographic survey and re search in Solomons waters as part of the CCOP/SOPAC programme, and welcomed an alternative research pro gramme to be carried out there by Australia, NZ and the US. • Decided to defer the mat ter of a direct approach to the OPEC states for a special oil deal for the Islands, so that it could be followed up at the Commonwealth Heads of Gov

ernment meeting in Melbourne in October. Most people now thought the whole matter a waste of time. • Welcomed reports indicat ing that the Pacific Forum Line finally appears to be sailing out of troubled waters, and thanked a number of countries for their financial support. • Noted that Nauru had now been included in the SPAR TECA list of smaller Island countries that could benefit from wider duty-free trade ac cess to Australia and New Zealand. • Approved a whole series of resolutions on fisheries, which endorsed the Forum Fisheries Agency’s research and develop ment programme, and set up guidelines aimed at getting it moving effectively. • Approved a report on the establishment of a Pacific Islands Fund to assist smaller island countries unable to join World Bank or the Asian Devel opment Bank, and decided to try and get this idea moving too (see also Tradcwinds).

Stuart Indcr.