South Pacific Forum Dates

This year's South Pacific Forum meeting has been scheduled for 30 October 2000 in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati.

The date was announced by the Secretary General of the South Pacific, Mr Noel Levi, CBE, following advice from the Government of Kiribati which is host for the 31st annual Forum.

The 2000 summit will also formally launch the change in name for the organisation from the South Pacific Forum to the Pacific Islands Forum.

The series of Forum-related meetings begins on 25th October with a two day session of the Forum Officials Committee (FOC). The FOC comprises senior officials from the member states who also form the governing body of the Forum's administrative arm, known as the South Pacific Forum Secretariat.

A formal opening of the Forum is set for 28th October, followed by the Forum Leaders Retreat on the 29th, where Leaders will consider key issues of concern to the region.

The formal session of the Forum on 30th October will endorse a 2000 Forum Communique outlining the Forum's position and decisions on these key issues.

The annual Post Forum Dialogue with the Forum's ten Dialogue Partners (Canada, People's Republic of China, European Union, France, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom and the United States of America) will be held on 1-2 November.

The Dialogue is the primary multilateral consultation vehicle between development partners and the region conducted at ministerial level and covers a wide range of common issues, activities and programmes.

The full programme of meetings is: 25-26 October Forum Officials Committee 27 October Briefings 28 October Official Opening 29 October Leader's Retreat 30 October Forum Formal Session 31 October Bilaterals 1-2 November Post Forum Dialogue

The Forum member states are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Forum Secretariat, Suva 17 April 2000

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