20 Jun 2017

UN preparing Solomons for withdrawal of RAMSI

From , 5:04 am on 20 June 2017

The United Nations says it is facilitating talks in Solomon Islands partly to build confidence among the people as the Regional Assistance Mission prepares to leave.

The Australian led RAMSI mission departs the Solomons next week after providing protection and development assistance since 2003, following years of violent tension on Guadalcanal.

The talks, focussing on the sustainability of peace and the maintenance of security, are being hosted by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, but they are aimed at a wide cross section of Solomons' society.

The UN Development Programme's Pacific Resident Coordinator, Osnat Lubrani, told Don Wiseman they want to facilitate discussion around some of the difficult issues that the people in the Solomons don't have an opportunity to do, often enough.