Solomons initiates dialogue
Solomon Islands-Australia relations
The government has finally announced a plan to repairs its relation with Australia.
Today in Parliament foreign Minister Patteson Oti revealed a plan to have Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare hold talks with his Australian counterpart, John Howard. In a statement on the Bilateral Relations between the two countries, Mr Oti said despite what appears to be a negative situation, the government remains committed to re-establishing dialogue and relations with Australia. He said this would be based on Australia respecting decisions made by the sovereign Solomon Islands government.
The Foreign Minister said details of the plan were communicated to Canberra through the Australian High Commission in Honiara yesterday. Mr Oti said the current standoff stems from certain decisions to advance the nation as an independent self governing democracy. He also announced the government’s intention to seek help from the Commonwealth Secretariat for possible assistance to the dialogue process.
State Government
Calls for a speedy adoption of a federal system of government and independence to some province have again surfaced among various leaders of Solomon Islands.
The sour relationship between Solomon Islands and Australia over the past few month have fuelled such sentiments. The previous Guadalcanal administration had made the province's position clear on the matter.
Very soon the new Joash Salani led Guadalcanal government must tell its people of its stand on the stand-off between Solomon Islands and Australia. The majority of the people of the province want RAMSI to stay for a much longer period. To them RAMSI means Australia.
Independence
The diplomatic row between Solomon Islands and Australia has also angered the Western Province.
The Provincial Premier Alex Lokopio has threatened that his province will break-away from Solomon Islands if the Sogavare government continues to prolong mending the relations. He says such stand-off, resulting from various issues including the latest plan of the government's to re-arm certain security units is only slowing down development progress.
Premier Lokopio says Solomon Islands should mend its relation with Australia and go ahead and implement its rural development policy, which his government supports.
Re-armament Plan
The Isabel Province has also joined those opposing the government's re-armament plan.
In a statement Premier Rueben Dotho has expressed concern over the plan. He says Isabel Province stands at a cross-road of peace and harmony for the peaceful co-existence of Solomon Islands. Mr Dotho says re-arming the police at this time is a serious concern to his government and people.
The Isabel Premier says re-arming the police is a national issue and as a democratic country, the government must seek the views of the provincial government and the people. Mr Dotho says the arming of the police is inappropriate at present because the trauma caused by misuse of guns in the social unrest is still fresh in mind of those affected.
MyBlog says
It must be sigh of relief among Solomon Islanders, when Foreign Minister Patteson Oti announced in Parliament that the government has started the process of mending the sour relations with Australia.
It must be, because that relation may decide the future of Solomon Islands and its people. Solomon Islands as a developing needs all the help it can get from its traditional friends and other partners to advance. This must not be seen as adopting a dependency mentality on outsiders. No, Solomon Islanders must use the help they get to improve themselves and advance their country.
Part of the solution to advancing Solomon Islands and its people is through Good Governance. That's good governance by everybody. It is easier to blame leaders on everything that goes wrong. But each and every Solomon Islanders has a part to play in to build a better future for the country.
Shalom
The government has finally announced a plan to repairs its relation with Australia.
Today in Parliament foreign Minister Patteson Oti revealed a plan to have Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare hold talks with his Australian counterpart, John Howard. In a statement on the Bilateral Relations between the two countries, Mr Oti said despite what appears to be a negative situation, the government remains committed to re-establishing dialogue and relations with Australia. He said this would be based on Australia respecting decisions made by the sovereign Solomon Islands government.
The Foreign Minister said details of the plan were communicated to Canberra through the Australian High Commission in Honiara yesterday. Mr Oti said the current standoff stems from certain decisions to advance the nation as an independent self governing democracy. He also announced the government’s intention to seek help from the Commonwealth Secretariat for possible assistance to the dialogue process.
State Government
Calls for a speedy adoption of a federal system of government and independence to some province have again surfaced among various leaders of Solomon Islands.
The sour relationship between Solomon Islands and Australia over the past few month have fuelled such sentiments. The previous Guadalcanal administration had made the province's position clear on the matter.
Very soon the new Joash Salani led Guadalcanal government must tell its people of its stand on the stand-off between Solomon Islands and Australia. The majority of the people of the province want RAMSI to stay for a much longer period. To them RAMSI means Australia.
Independence
The diplomatic row between Solomon Islands and Australia has also angered the Western Province.
The Provincial Premier Alex Lokopio has threatened that his province will break-away from Solomon Islands if the Sogavare government continues to prolong mending the relations. He says such stand-off, resulting from various issues including the latest plan of the government's to re-arm certain security units is only slowing down development progress.
Premier Lokopio says Solomon Islands should mend its relation with Australia and go ahead and implement its rural development policy, which his government supports.
Re-armament Plan
The Isabel Province has also joined those opposing the government's re-armament plan.
In a statement Premier Rueben Dotho has expressed concern over the plan. He says Isabel Province stands at a cross-road of peace and harmony for the peaceful co-existence of Solomon Islands. Mr Dotho says re-arming the police at this time is a serious concern to his government and people.
The Isabel Premier says re-arming the police is a national issue and as a democratic country, the government must seek the views of the provincial government and the people. Mr Dotho says the arming of the police is inappropriate at present because the trauma caused by misuse of guns in the social unrest is still fresh in mind of those affected.
MyBlog says
It must be sigh of relief among Solomon Islanders, when Foreign Minister Patteson Oti announced in Parliament that the government has started the process of mending the sour relations with Australia.
It must be, because that relation may decide the future of Solomon Islands and its people. Solomon Islands as a developing needs all the help it can get from its traditional friends and other partners to advance. This must not be seen as adopting a dependency mentality on outsiders. No, Solomon Islanders must use the help they get to improve themselves and advance their country.
Part of the solution to advancing Solomon Islands and its people is through Good Governance. That's good governance by everybody. It is easier to blame leaders on everything that goes wrong. But each and every Solomon Islanders has a part to play in to build a better future for the country.
Shalom
posted by Myblog | 10:36 pm
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