やしの実通信 by Dr Rieko Hayakawa

太平洋を渡り歩いて35年。島と海を国際政治、開発、海洋法の視点で見ていきます。

第44回PIF年次総会 - その3

PIF年次総会が終了するとpost-Forum dialogueが開催される。

PIFメンバー国と主に援助国で非PIFメンバーの日本、米、EU、中国等々の対話が設定される。

今年、日本政府は鈴木外務副大臣(総理特使)を派遣した。

(総理特使)ー これ重要。 

過去3年間の日本代表には総理特使なんて肩書きはない。

(平成24年9月3日)中野外務大臣政務官のフィジー訪問及び太平洋諸島フォーラム(PIF)域外国対話出席(結果概要)

(平成23年9月10日)山口外務副大臣のニュージーランド(NZ)訪問及び太平洋諸島フォーラム(PIF)域外国対話出席(結果概要)

(平成22年8月)西村大臣政務官による太平洋諸島フォーラム(PIF)域外国対話出席(概要と評価)

鈴木外務副大臣(総理特使)の太平洋諸島フォーラムPIF)域外国対話出席(結果概要)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/annai/page1_000044.html

鈴木外務副大臣(総理特使)のモリ・ミクロネシア連邦大統領他表敬(結果概要)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/annai/page3_000374.html

総理特使の重要な役割はこの10月に開催される「太平洋・島サミット第2回中間閣僚会合(MIM2)への協力要請」であったようだ。

どんな話をしたのかが、下記のFSM政府のプレスリリースに書かれている。

この中で目を引く箇所が

”FSM’s support in having the United States attend the PALM meeting”

米国の日本ー太平洋島嶼国協力への関与。

これは前回の島サミットで海洋問題と共に始めて議案に盛り込まれた件です。

当時の外務省大洋州課飯田課長が日本財団笹川陽平会長に面談された際に、笹川会長から当方の意見を聞くようにアドバイスをされ、連絡をいただいた。

当方が出提案したのが 

1.米国の関与、

2.海洋安全保障(広義の)

3.沖縄の具体的関与(場所の提供だけではなく) である。

結果、1.2.が取り上げられたが、パットはしなかった。時間の関係もあったと思う。

次回の島サミットは2015年のはずである。そこに向けて、米国の関与を進めて行こうとするのは素晴らしい。

ーーーー

President Mori receives Senior Vice Minister Suzuki of Japan

Press Release #1309-03

Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services

September 10, 2013

FSMIS (September 10, 2013): Coming home after attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Majuro, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) President Manny Mori met with a Japanese envoy headed by Senior Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shunichi Suzuki, around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 7.

President Mori welcomed Minister Suzuki to the FSM and commended him on his successful representation of the Government of Japan at the Post Forum Dialogue of the 44th session of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Mr. Suzuki thanked President Mori for making the time to have the meeting in spite of difficult arrangements and travel inconveniences.

Among a number of agenda items, Minister Suzuki brought up matters regarding the preparations for the November Pacific Leaders Meeting (PALM) that the Government of Japan orchestrates for its Pacific partners. Specifically, Mr. Suzuki requested that FSM participate in the PALM ministerial meeting in October and solicited for FSM’s support in having the United States attend the PALM meeting.

Furthermore, Minister Suzuki spoke about Japan’s commitment to the strengthening of people to people relations with the FSM and within the region as evident in the “Kizuna” project, which resulted in the youth exchange program the past few years. Such exchange is meant to ensure strong ties between the future generations of Japanese and Micronesians

Mr. Suzuki also expressed gratitude for efforts towards repatriation of war-dead remains on Tol Island in Chuuk State the past few years. He asked that the FSM Government also assist in on-going similar efforts in Woleai, Yap State.

President Mori opened his dialogue with Minister Suzuki by commenting positively on the Japanese official’s statement to the Forum Leaders in Majuro the day before.

In response to Mr. Suzuki’s requests, President Mori confirmed that FSM will participate in the PALM ministerial meeting, agreed to the interest in involving the United States in the PALM process, and stated that his administration will look into ways to assist the war-dead repatriation activities in Woleai.

Both parties underscored the warm sentiments that characterize the FSM-Japan long-standing relation and recognized the mutual benefits in deepening understanding and securing the “kizuna” for the future generations.

Minister Suzuki was accompanied by Ambassador Eiichi Suzuki from the Japan Embassy in Kolonia and other delegation members.

Joining President Mori were the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lorin S. Robert, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Leo Falcam Jr. and other department staff.

Mr. Suzuki’s activities in Pohnpei included the signing of two “grass -root grant” projects in Yap State and Chuuk State at the Foreign Affairs Office on September 7 and a handover ceremony for a classroom building at the Pohnpei Catholic School on September 8. These are assistance projects funded through “grass root grant” arrangements by the Japanese Government.