16 Jul 2008

Japanese government offers help to Solomon Islands

9:52 am on 16 July 2008

The Japanese Government has expressed its willingness to assist the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

And the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI will hold its second meeting in Honiara, on Thursday to discuss this offer among other issues.

The FMSC will include Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith for their role in providing oversight and governance to the RAMSI operation which comprises the past, present and future Forum Chairs plus Solomon Islands and Australia.

The establishment of the FMSC was one of the recommendations of the Forum RAMSI Review Taskforce which conducted two phased consultations in Solomon Islands in April and June of 2007.

As a lead up to the FMSC meeting, the Enhanced Consultation Mechanism meeting held a meeting in Honiara yesterday.

Also up for discussions by the Ministers is for RAMSI to broaden its current mandate to include rural development.