26 Jun 2003

Tonga also ready to help Solomons

9:40 am on 26 June 2003

The government of Tonga says it is ready to provide assistance to Solomon Islands if it receives a request from the Solomons Government.

But the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Fekita Utoikamanu, does say the intervention plan announced by Australia fits within the Biketawa Declaration which is a guide for how Forum Island countries should react to crises in the region.

Tonga will attend Monday's meeting of Forum Foreign Ministers in Sydney where the Solomon intervention plan will be discussed.

The Secretary says Tonga has participated in peace keeping and policing efforts in the past in both Bougainville and the Solomons.