Pacific leaders agree to review Ramsi

Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, pictured with Helen Clark in Nadi yesterday, hopes to have the Ramsi review taskforce up and running within weeks. Picture / Fiji Times

Pacific Islands Forum leaders have agreed to review the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomons Islands (Ramsi) in a move designed both to appease the Honiara Government and ensure the operation survives.

Forum chairman Laisenia Qarase, the Prime Minister of Fiji, announced the plan last night, saying Ramsi would continue in the meantime.

Another plan to hold quarterly meetings between the heads of the Solomons, Ramsi and key forum members was also approved - giving the forum input into the mission.

It will effectively strengthen the forum's hand and at least appear to dilute Australia's influence in favour of greater regional input.

Prime Minister Helen Clark welcomed the step. "I'm very happy with the outcome, because one is always concerned with the level of rhetoric before a meeting like this and that you might go away with a meltdown - the mission being told to leave - and that's not what the forum wants."

Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last week threatened to force the Australian-led mission - established to restore law and order - out of his country.

The threat followed a stoush with Canberra over its attempt to extradite would-be Solomons Attorney-General Julian Moti to Australia to face child-sex charges.

Moti had previously been spirited out of Papua New Guinea, which resulted in relations between Port Moresby and Canberra deteriorate to the point that Australia banned ministerial contact between the two countries.

The affair threatened to derail both Ramsi and the annual forum meeting of Pacific leaders.

The resolution is a face-saver for Mr Sogavare, who is under domestic and regional pressure not to expel the Ramsi personnel.

Resentment towards Australia was clearly still simmering early yesterday, with PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare using his speech as outgoing chairman at the forum opening to lob further criticisms.

Recent developments threatened efforts towards genuine regional co-operation, he warned.

"Selective criticisms levelled at a few of our members do little to create a co-operative spirit ... Equally unhelpful are heavy-handed approaches that have little regard for the social and cultural sensitivities of the local situation," he said, in a clear reference to Australia.

Few details were released about the planned review - one of several already conducted - but it followed the tabling of a five-point plan by Mr Sogavare.

His plan called for the restoration of the regional character of Ramsi, establishment of a ministerial team to oversee its operations, an independent review of the mission and lastly a "clear demarcation between Ramsi and Australia".

Helen Clark said Mr Qarase was talking about establishing the review taskforce within weeks. She rejected suggestions yet another review was unnecessary and might be a way of sweeping problems under the carpet.

"It's 3 years down the track from when the mission went in so everyone agrees it's timely to be looking at where to from here, what are the benchmarks, is there an exit strategy, what would constitute success."