Pacific Forum countries outline

attitudes to regional issues

Decolonisation

The Forum reviewed develop ments since its previous meeting in relation to New Caledonia and adopted the following resolution: The Fourteenth South Pacific Forum; Reconfirming its belief that the principles of self determination and independence apply to non-self-governing Pacific territories; Recognising that a colonial situation exists in New Caledonia; Acknowledging the continued efforts of the Kanak people in New Caledonia towards the at tainment of self-determination and independence by peaceful means; Taking note of progress which has been made by the French Government in relation to political evolution in New Caledonia; Recognising the legitimacy of the Kanak people of New

In a communique agreed to during the closing session of the South Pacific Forum meeting in Canberra, the Forum countries reported on the major issues they had discussed and outlined their attitudes. The text of their report is reproduced on these pages.

Caledonia having an inherent and active right to self-determination

and independence;

Welcoming the recognition of the Kanak representatives at the round-table talks of the rights of other groups resident in the territ ory to participate in an act of self-determination; Declares support for inde pendence in New Caledonia de termined in accordance with the expressed wishes of its people; Welcomes as a concrete step towards independence the French Government’s intention to move to an act of self-determination in which the option of independ ence is included; Urges the French Government to continue to carry out its re

sponsibility in guaranteeing that

New Caledonia’s independence be achieved in a peaceful manner; Further urges all the political and community groups in New Caledonia to work closely to gether and with the French Gov ernment towards the achieve ment of independence by peace ful means; Requests the French Govern ment, in drawing up the pro posed new statute of autonomy, to transfer, at an early date, more political and administrative pow ers to appropriate authorities in New Caledonia, especially full control of the internal affairs of

the colony;

Declares that the establish ment by the French Government of the internal autonomy statute should be transitional and in clude a precise calendar leading

to independence;

Urges the French Govern ment, in conducting any act of self-determination to take ac

count of the desirability of ex cluding from the franchise those who are short term or non permanent residents in New Caledonia; Proposes that the French Gov ernment consider inviting a re presentative Forum mission to visit New Caledonia to observe developments; Decides to review the situation in New Caledonia at its 15th meeting and in light of this, to consider the desirability of reinscription of New Caledonia on the United Nations list of non self-goveming territories.

Regional Nuclear

Matters

The Forum considered the questions of contined nuclear testing in the South Pacific, the invitation of the French Govern ment to Forum countries for sci entists to visit and assess the situation at the nuclear test site at Moruroa, nuclear waste disposal and dumping, the South Pacific Regional Environment Program me, and the Australian proposal for a Declaration of a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. The Forum recognised that the French Government’s invitation had been made on a bilateral basis and that it was a matter for governments to respond as they wished. The Forum adopted the following statement of its postion on nuclear matters.

The Fourteenth South Pacific Forum: Recalled that in the communi ques issued following Meetings over several years, they had ta ken a strong stand in opposition to nuclear testing and proposals for storage and dumping of nuc lear waste material in the Pacific.

Despite these unanimous expres

sions of view of independent and self-governing South Pacific countries, nuclear practices abhorrent to Forum countries continued; Reiterated they would con tinue to make the strongest pro tests and condemnations so long as nuclear testing by France or any other country continued in the South Pacific region. They also reaffirmed their opposition to proposals for the dumping and storage of nuclear waste in the Pacific area.

Commneded the Australian initiative in reviving considera tion of the concept of a nuclear free zone among the Forum members. They expressed ap preciation of the Australian working document which had provided the basis for their dis cussions and which made a valu able contribution to establishing the objectives which a zone con cept would seek to achieve.

Expressed the need for more time to consider the implications of the proposal and to carry out consultations on it. The Foreign Minister of Australia undertook to continue consultations on a bilateral basis to encourage furth er development of the zone con cept both within the framework of the Forum and more widely.

He undertook to provide the Forum countries with back ground on nuclear free zone con cepts in other parts of the world.

Noted that there had been a wide agreement on the general principles of the concept as sub mitted by Australia. It affirmed that in further addressing the zone proposal it would be impor tant to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and over flight as provided in international law and in the Treaty obligations of some Forum members. It re cognised the sovereign right of Governments to make their own decisions on their alliance and defence requirements including access to their ports and airfields by the vessels and aircraft of other countries.

Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, was ap pointed official spokesman for the Forum. He gave briefings twice a day on the progress of discussions between the heads

of government. - AIS Picture.

Expressed their commitment to advancing the cause of general disarmament; supporting the negotiation and conclusion of an effective Treaty which would outlaw all forms of nuclear test ing by all States in all environ ments; and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices, particularly through support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Decided to place the question on the Agenda of its 1984 Ses sion to provide further opportuni ty for consideration and exami nation of the concept of a nuclear free zone.

Single Regional

Organisation

The Forum considered the question of a Single Regional Organisation and adopted the fol

lowing resolution:

The Fourteenth South Pacific Forum Recalling its decision at the Vanuatu Forum Meeting to com mend the desirability of a single effective regional organisation; Recognising that a Single Re gional Organisation to be effec tive and to meet the needs of the region, should: 1. have the basic goal of furthering the objectives of the Forum countries in as sisting all Pacific Island countries and territories in their development efforts, either individually or collectively; 2. ensure the continued par ticipation and contributions of those developed coun tries, including those out side the region, who have to date played an important role in assisting regional development, on the basis of mutual respect and con structive partnership among the Forum coun tries, the Island territories and the metropolitan countries; 3. recognise the position of the Forum as the supreme authority on issues of reg ional concern; 4. be more cost effective in the long run than existing arrangements; 5. maintain close relations with other regional institu tions and organisations and

with international agencies operating within the reg ion, channelling wherever possible their activities through the single regional organisation, with a view to developing greater co ordination of their ac tivities to the beneift of regional countries.

Agreed that greater emphasis should be given towards attain ing the objective of a Single Regional Organisation for the Pacific with a view to establish ing in the region a new and lasting relationshiop among de veloped and developing coun tries and territories to promote regional development; Decided to appoint a Commit tee of Ministers of Foreign Af fairs from four countries to; 1. consider the political, leg al, constitutional and finan cial implications of a single regional organisation; 2. undertake consultations with the governments of France, USA, and the Un ited Kingdom, as well as those island territories not members of the Forum and SPEC, to inform them of the Forum’s views and to ascertain from them their views on their participation in a Single Regional Or ganisation, and 3. recommend to the Fifteenth South Pacific Forum a set of proposals on the Single Regional Organisation based on the foregoing.

Requested the Chairman of the Fourteenth South Pacific Forum to convey to the govern ments of France, the USA and the United Kingdom as well as their Pacific territories the Forum’s decision to initiate con sultations with them on a Single Regional Organisation.

Decided that funding for the Committee be arranged by SPEC through the Short Term Advisory Services Project.

Australia undertook to provide financial assistance. The com position of the Committee would be finalised after consultations.

Regional Trade

The Forum noted the report of the Third Meeting of the Region al Committee on Trade and that the SPARTECA Agreement was generally working well although

there were a number of areas where continuing assistance was necessary from Forum Island Countries to take full advantage of the various provisions of the Agreement.

The Forum, in noting the re commendations of the 1982 Study on Closer Economic Co operation, endorsed the desira bility of taking concrete steps to promote closer economic rela tions between Forum Island Countries and endorsed in princi ple the lowering of tariff barriers to promote regional trade.

Pacific Forum Line

The Forum considered a num ber of papers and reports and also received a verbal report from the Chairman of the Pacific Forum Line on the Line’s financial situ ation. A number of countries expressed their strong support, including financial commit ments, for the continuation of the line’s operations, but the Forum concluded that the Line’s finan cial situation should be reviewed by the shareholders of the Line at the earliest opportunity. The

Pacific Forum Line shareholders would examine the viability of the Line in its present situation and take decisions about the fu ture of its operations.

Telecommunications

The Forum adopted a program for the long-term development of rural and outer island telecom munications in Forum Island Countries. The program is de signed to provide a regional co operative approach and a framework within which external assistance for development in this area can be co-ordinated.

The offers by Australia of A 5300,000 and New Zealand of NZ5250,000 towards the costs of the program were accepted with appreciation.

Pacific Islands Fund

The Forum decided not to pro ceed with the proposal to estab lish a Pacific Islands Fund. (The communique also named the delegates who attended, list ed reports received, and an nounced that next year’s meeting will be held in Tuvalu).