Top �� Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister

(Provisional Translation)

THE PACIFIC LEADERS SUMMIT BETWEEN JAPAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM THE OKINAWA INITIATIVE: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR A MORE PROSPEROUS AND SAFER PACIFIC

OKINAWA, JAPAN MAY 16-17 2003

1.	The Leaders of Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members met for their third Meeting in Okinawa, Japan, from 16 to 17 May 2003. The Leaders who attended were from Japan, Fiji, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Cook Islands were represented by the Deputy Prime Minister. Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia and New Zealand were represented by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Kiribati was represented by its Chairman of the Council of State. Tuvalu was represented by the Secretary to Government. The Summit was co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Junichiro Koizumi, and the Chairman of the PIF and Prime Minister of the Fiji Islands, Hon. Laisenia Qarase.
2.	The Leaders of Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum recalled the importance of the mutually beneficial partnership that was formalized at the first PALM in 1997. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to ensure that a safe, stable and sustainable environment is achieved in the Asia and Pacific region. The Leaders of Japan and the PIF expressed their determination to achieve their "common vision for the future" as expressed in the Miyazaki Declaration in 2000. The Leaders called on the international community to provide continuing support for the region in this regard.
3.	The PIF Leaders expressed their appreciation to the Prime Minister, Government and People of Japan for organising the Summit and for the warm hospitality extended. The Leaders also expressed their gratitude to the Governor and People of Okinawa for their warm hospitality and wished them continued prosperity.
4.	The Summit noted with satisfaction the progress report submitted by Japan on achievements of the Miyazaki Initiative from the second Leaders Meeting in 2000, which has contributed much to the enhancement of the relationship between Japan and PIF members. Much of the ongoing work arising from the Miyazaki Initiative will be continued under this Okinawa Initiative. Okinawa has expressed its willingness to contribute to the sustainable development in the Pacific region with its own initiatives.
5.	The Summit was held against the backdrop of a global and regional environment that was politically uncertain and economically stagnant. Many of the Pacific island countries have suffered from gradual decline in gross national income, and their aid receipt has been either unchanged or on decline. Moreover, they are facing a particularly difficult task of overcoming their physical disadvantages of smallness, geographic isolation and vulnerability, while striving to maximize the benefits from globalization and ensuring the protection of their cultural diversity.
6.	The Summit noted that Japan and the PIF shared many things in common including the vast Pacific Ocean with its enormous but not unlimited resources. There is a shared need as well for a safe and stable region that allowed for the positive flow of goods, services, capital, people and knowledge, whilst also ensuring the maintenance of a safe and sustainable environment for future generations of the Asia-Pacific region.
7.	Against this background, the Summit decided on this Okinawa Initiative: Regional Development Strategy and Joint Action Plan for a More Prosperous and Safer Pacific. These are designed to translate the following principles and commitments into regional initiatives:
	1)	Achievements at the WSSD (2002);
	2)	The Millennium Development Goals at the United Nations;
	3)	"Human Security" and "Peace Consolidation" initiatives proposed by Japan;
	4)	Pacific policy framework endorsed by the Leaders and Ministers of the PIF; and
	5)	Enhanced cooperation with other development partner governments and organizations including those from Civil Society.
8.	The Summit also set the following five priority policy targets and listed, in the attached Joint Action Plan, the initiatives which Japan and PIF countries will jointly undertake:
	1)	Enhanced Security in the Pacific Region: The Summit recognized the need to address not only the conventional physical threats to the integrity of the Pacific region, but also terrorism and other international crimes as well as human security concerns including natural disasters, economic turbulence, polluted environment and diseases.
	2)	A Safer and More Sustainable Environment: The Summit identified, as priority focus, waste management, protection and sustainable use of the environment and natural resources, global warming, and vulnerability and disaster management.
	3)	Improved Education and Human Resources Development: The Leaders determined the priority of strengthening primary and basic education as well as the importance of higher education and distance learning in developing and realizing the human resources potential of the region.
	4)	Better Health: The Summit decided to take joint actions aimed at fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and other infectious diseases as well as diabetes, and pledged to continue support for immunization campaigns. The Summit shared concerns over possible outbreaks of SARS in the Pacific Region and decided to remain vigilant on this issue.
	5)	More Robust and Sustained Trade and Economic Growth:BR The Summit also decided to continue to support trade and investment promotional work including in tourism, and to investigate other means of enhancing the economic and trade performance of the Pacific Islands.
9.	Prime Minister Koizumi reaffirmed Japan's intention of supporting the achievement of these five targets in the Pacific through the Joint Action Plan. The PIF Leaders reiterated their appreciation of Japan's concrete commitments to the Pacific Islands and confirmed their own commitment to the implementation of the Joint Action Plan.
10.	The Summit decided that a high level annual review be held on the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy and Joint Action Plan.

ATTACHMENT

JOINT ACTION PLAN

This Joint Action Plan has been formulated to clarify the actions that the Leaders of PIF members and Japan decided to take jointly in order to implement the Regional Development Strategy for a More Prosperous and Safer Pacific, and thus forms an integral part of the Okinawa Initiative.
I.	Initiatives for Enhanced Security in the Pacific Region
	Political Environment
	1.	While noting with some optimism the improvements in the Pacific region regarding armed conflicts and political stability in the recent past, the Summit agreed that it was still necessary to address some of the more fundamental causes of political instability in the Pacific. Particular emphasis will be placed on addressing the following issues.
		(1)	good governance;
		(2)	socio-economic disparity;
		(3)	land tenure; and
		(4)	resolving conflicts.
	2.	The PIF members will continue to deal with those issues through the Biketawa Declaration and the Forum's Eight Principles of Accountability.
	3.	Japan will support the PIF members efforts in respect of the following activities:
		(1)	the collection of small arms and light weapons; and
		(2)	peace consolidation activities such as rebuilding of infrastructure which would also contribute to job creation, and vocational training for the ex-combatants and involuntarily displaced people.
	Terrorism and International Crime
	4.	There are concerns as to the impact of terrorism and other transnational crimes such as money laundering and people and drug trafficking in the Pacific. In order to counter these concerns, the PIF members will continue to enhance their law-enforcement capabilities through the successful implementation of the Honiara and the Nasonini Declarations.
	5.	Japan's support will continue to be needed for the following activities:
		(1)	PIF 's law enforcement programs at the Secretariat;
		(2)	Other seminars and workshops in areas such as money-laundering.
	Human Security
	6.	The Pacific islands are also vulnerable to many other forms of threats to their human security, including natural disasters, economic turbulence, polluted environment and diseases. Those issues will be dealt with respectively in the following paragraphs, but there is one cross-sectoral initiative: improvement of communications network which provide for basic infrastructure for any activity to tackle those human security concerns.
	7.	In this connection, Japan will consider its support for the measures designed to mitigate digital divide, including joint studies and subsequent construction of the internet networks which are sustainable in terms of cost and technological standards.
II.	Initiatives for a Safer and More Sustainable Pacific Environment:
	8.	The environmental protection is one of the three pillars of sustainable development as defined by the WSSD Plan of Implementation, and the Pacific islands have some of the most valuable and beautiful but fragile and vulnerable ecological systems in the world. The Summit therefore decided to continue the pursuit of joint initiatives in the environment in four main areas and also to enhance environment education to attain the goals set forth in the following areas. It is particularly valuable to utilize the expertise of civil society organizations that are active in the Pacific region, and to learn lessons from the experiences in Okinawa.
	Waste Management
	9.	Since waste management is one of the most urgent but difficult issues in the Pacific, it is necessary to formulate a well-defined strategy that takes into account particular circumstances and unique features of PIF members. This strategy should be designed to support, among other things, awareness raising, policy instruments, institutional strengthening and improved collection, disposal or recycling.
	10.	In this connection, the PIF members will endeavor to take the following actions:
		(1)	provide necessary resources for development and implementation of national waste management policies;
		(2)	encourage and support appropriate waste minimization activities so as to achieve measurable reductions in the quantities of waste that need to be disposed; and
		(3)	establish and upgrade waste disposal facilities within their countries that comply with minimum agreed regional performance standards.
	11.	Japan's support will be required in respect of the following measures:
		(1)	Development of a regional strategy for waste management by South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) and other regional organizations;
		(2)	Technical co-operation activities designed to enhance PIF members' capabilities to take the actions listed in paragraph 10; and
		(3)	Funding for waste disposal facilities in line with the regional strategy.
	12.	In dealing with this issue, it is necessary to take a prudent approach, taking into consideration the experiences in other countries in similar circumstances like Japan. Furthermore, coordination among interested donor countries and organizations is indispensable to achieve maximum results.
	Protection and Sustainable Use of the Environment and Natural Resources
	13.	The PIF members are determined to take measures for the protection and sustainable use of the Pacific's natural environment and resources, particularly for highly sensitive and essential ecosystems and resources such as coral reefs, mangroves and water.
	14.	Japan's support is required to supplement the activities of the PIF members in this regard through a variety of measures, including in collaboration with civil society organizations.
	15.	Support should also be extended for the program of collaboration for small island developing states as mentioned in the Ministerial Declaration at the 3rd World Water Forum held in Japan in March, 2003.
	16.	Japan and PIF recognise that the conservation and sustainable management and use of the fisheries resources of the Pacific is of vital importance to all, and that the Western and Central Pacific Tuna Convention provides a key to achieving this. PIF accordingly welcomes the participation and cooperation of Japan in the Preparatory Conference process for the Tuna Commission. Japan and PIF will work together to enhance mutual cooperation in this process.
	Global Warming
	17.	Leaders of PIF members and Japan that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol strongly urge countries that have not already done so to ratify the Protocol in a timely manner.
	18.	Leaders also pledged to exert all possible efforts towards establishing global action, based on a common rule, in which all countries participate, in order to ensure the effectiveness of measures to address climate change.
	19.	The PIF members and Japan will explore ways and means to support other actions aimed at improving the Pacific Islands' understanding and responses to climate change, and sea level rise. Both sides will promote the Renewable-Energy-Based Rural Electrification (RERE) Initiative and Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (Type II, WSSD), as well as Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) activities, in particular, its Scientific Capacity Building/Enhancement programme (CAPaBLE) (Type II, WSSD).
	Vulnerability and Disaster Management :
	20.	Managing the vulnerability of islands requires a cross-cutting strategy that applies to all areas of the environment, and the PIF members are committed to the increase in support for effective planning and responses to disasters.
	21.	Japan's assistance in this area should center around technical assistance in areas such as studies and surveys, awareness raising, environment planning and management, and weather forecasting.
III.	Initiatives for Improved Education and Human Resources Development
	22.	Recognizing the importance of education to future development of the Pacific region, the PIF members have allocated and will continue to provide considerable resources for education. In this connection, high priority will continue to be given to basic education, with higher education and distance learning being a priority as well.
	23.	Japan will support the PIF members' efforts in the following areas:
	Basic Education
		(1)	School infrastructure;
		(2)	Human resources development for teachers and teaching methods / materials; and
		(3)	Children Exchange Programs between Japan and PIF members.
	Higher Education and Distance Learning
		(1)	Hardware and expertise for distance learning (University of the South Pacific);
		(2)	ICT-based projects including at the bilateral level with region-wide benefits;
		(3)	Educational Exchange Programs between universities and colleges; and
		(4)	Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
IV.	Initiatives for Healthier Pacific Islands:
	24.	Concerned at the deteriorating health conditions and the negative effects on social development in the Pacific islands, the PIF members will continue to focus, in this area, on the following elements:
		(1)	HIV/AIDS;
		(2)	Other life-threatening diseases in the Pacific such as diabetes;
		(3)	Immunization; and
		(4)	Environmental health initiatives, surveillance programs and tele-health projects that seek to take advantage of ICT to deliver cost-effective health services in the Pacific.
	25.	Japan's support will be explored with regard to those priority activities of the PIF members to achieve these goals, and it is indispensable to co-ordinate aid among donors to avoid duplication and to make the best use of available funds.
V.	Initiatives for More Robust and Sustained Trade and Economic Growth:
	26.	Given the importance of trade and investment as another pillar of sustainable development, the promotional activities between Japan and the PIF members through JICA, JETRO, the Pacific Islands Center (PIC) and the Forum Secretariat will continue to be a priority area.
	27.	A GP-ICD (Green Productivity for Integrated Community Development) Program of the APO (Asian Productivity Organization) will be initiated in Fiji on a pilot basis so that its experience on village-based development could be disseminated to PIF economies.
	28.	Japan and the PIF members will further explore other forms of enhancing the economic and trade performance of the PIF members.