6 Feb 2008

Cook Islands PM visits Solomon Islands, FFA headquarters

10:17 am on 6 February 2008

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua will meet his Cook Islands counterpart Jim Marurai in Honiara today.

Mr Marurai is visiting the Solomon's to visit the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency headquarters following an invitation by the FFA Director General, Dan Su'a.

Mr Marurai, who will also meet with Solomon's Foreign Affairs Minister William Haomae, has indicated interest in helping to look at ways of protecting tuna stocks in the region.

The Prime Minister Marurai describes the work of the FFA as the region's most important.

He says his country has a vested interest in the future of the region's tuna stocks and believes that his visit would be beneficial in protection efforts.

On Thursday, Mr Marurai is expected to meet with the acting Special Coordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, Jonathan Austin.

Prime Minister Mr Marurai will also travels to Tulagi in the Central Province where a Cook Islands policeman, Sergeant Rima Manavaikai, serving with RAMSI is based.