The Samoan government is nominating a judge of the International Criminal Court, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, for the position of Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The Apia-based on line news service Talamua says the nomination follows the surprise resignation of incumbent Greg Urwin for medical reasons.
Tuiloma was a candidate for the position in 1997 when the Forum chose Noel Levi of Papua New Guinea to lead its Suva-based secretariat.
The Forum leaders are expected to decide on a replacement for Mr Urwin at their next summit in Niue in three months.
For the past 25 years, Tuiloma has been living mainly in the US and Europe where he has been since 2003 as a judge at the International Criminal Court.
