PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

HONOLULU (Pacific Islands Report, Oct. 28) – Pacific island leaders who met with United States President George Bush on Friday in Honolulu were unanimous in describing the 45-minute meeting as a major success.

The 14 leaders, attending a meeting of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders hosted by the East-West Center, also met with Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command.

Click here for more pictures of the conference.

Many of the Pacific leaders took the opportunity to ask Bush, and Fargo, for assistance to their countries, states, or territories.

Republic of the Marshall Islands President Kessai Note asked Bush if he could hurry the U.S. Congress in approving the country’s renegotiated Compact of Free Association with the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Governor Juan Babauta sought an expanded federal program to study and protect coral reefs in the CNMI.

American Samoa Lt. Gov. Aitofele Sunia suggested the U.S. territory’s expertise in airport security could be tapped as a regional resource in the Pacific.

But many, like M. Young Vivian, President of Niue, wondered aloud how they would comply with Bush’s admonition to beef up border patrols and airport security without the means to provide them.

"Those airport screening machines are expensive," Vivian said after the meeting. "And how can we build a security fence around the our airport?"

While noncommittal, Bush instructed his National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleeza Rice – also in attendance at the meeting – to look into giving the stalled compact higher priority.

Bush also indicated interest in efforts to protect coral reefs in the Pacific and offered the nation’s help in future efforts.

Leaders in attendance included Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle; conference chairman and Tonga Prime Minister, Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata; Palau President Tommy Remengesau; Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Gov. Juan Babauta; Niue President M. Young Vivian; New Caledonia Minister of Education Leopold Joredie; Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs Rabbie Namaliu; Samoa Cabinet Minister Tuala Sale Tagaloa; Solomon Islands Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza; American Samoa Lt. Gov. Aitofele Sunia; Federated States of Micronesia President Joseph Urusemal; Fiji Minister of Foreign Affairs Kaliopate Tavola; Guam Gov. Felix Camacho; and Republic of Marshall Islands President Kessai Note.

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