Friday 15th June 2012

His Excellency Mr Shemi Tzur, Ambassador of the State of Israel will be visiting the Cook Islands from 17th to 20th June 2012. The purpose of Ambassador Shemi’s visit is to meet with the Cook Islands Government to discuss matters of common interest in particular the strengthening of bilateral arrangements and regional developments. Israel is a development partner of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Diplomatic Relations between the Cook Islands and the State of Israel were established in 2008 during the visit by the previous Israeli Ambassador.

Ambassador Shemi Tzur is head of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Wellington which reopened in 2010. The Ambassador was previously Ambassador to Cyprus, Estonia and Finland.

Friday 1st June 2012 

Health Minister Nandi Glassie met with Cuban Ambassador to New Zealand, Her Excellency Maria del Carmel Herrera Caseiro to discuss possible health scholarships to Cuba for young Cook Islanders in the coming year.

The discussions follow on from the visit to the Cook Islands of Ambassador Herrera Caseiro in March this year where she presented her credentials to the Cook Islands Government.

Cuba is well known for its expertise in the health field and since the 1960’s, Cuba has sent thousands of medical personnel to serve overseas, particularly to Latin Amercia, Africa and, more recently, Oceania.  From 2000, Cuba began strengthening its relations with Pacific Island Countries including providing medical aid.  Cuba’s medical aid to Pacific countries has been two-pronged, consisting of sending doctors to Oceania, and in provide scholarships for Pacific students to study medicine in Cuba at Cuba’s expense.  As of 2011, some 200 Pacific Island students are studying medicine in Cuba.

“Thus far, scholarships for Cook Islanders in the health area have been limited to study in Fiji, New Zealand and Australia,” said Minister Glassie.  “Given the continued decline in the number of scholarships available to Cook Islands over the years, the scholarships offered by Cuba are particularly welcome and Government look forward to bringing these opportunities to fruition through Ambassador Caseiro and our High Commission Office in Wellington.”  

Friday 1st June 2012 

The Cook Islands High Commission hosted a gathering of Cook Islands Community Leaders and Cook Islands students of Victoria University in Wellington on 30 May 2012.  Hosted by High Commissioner Tekaotiki Matapo, the gathering was an opportunity for the Community and students to meet with Minister Glassie and Secretary Faireka who were in Wellington for various meetings.

High Commissioner Matapo was encouraged by the gathering in light of the short notice provided.  “Within our limited resources, the High Commission endeavours to engage with our Cook Islands Community in Wellington and New Zealand and to support them with their various initiatives,” said Matapo.  “There are now over 60,000 Cook Islanders in New Zealand, many of whom maintain close ties with the homeland and who have aspirations to continue to contribute to its development.  The visit of Minister Glassie provided a useful opportunity for Government to engage constructively with our Cook Islands Community in Wellington, and particularly our tertiary students whom the High Commission takes particular interest in.”

The gathering was attended by Cook Islands Community Leaders from the Wellington region including Danny Kauraka, Mii Tupangaia and Teuru Kekena as well as a number of Cook Islands students studying at Victoria University including Cook Islands Student Association (CISA) members Tekura Moeka’a, Grace Hutton and Makiroa Mitchell.  “We really appreciated the invitation from the High Commissioner to attend this gathering and the opportunity to meet with Minister Glassie and engage with our Cook Islands Community Leaders in Wellington,” said Moeka’a who is President of the recently revived CISA.  “CISA was once a vibrant and active organisation at Victoria University and we hope to re-create through CISA a community for our Cook Islands students to share and learn our Cook Islands culture and to foster an ongoing connection with the ipukarea”.   

In addressing the students, Minister Glassie, who is also a member of the Victoria University Alumni, encouraged them to apply themselves diligently to their studies, particularly given the sacrifices made by their parents and families to enable the students to attend University.  Minister Glassie also encouraged the students to consider returning to the Cook Islands on completion of their studies noting the need in the Cook Islands for graduates in the areas of law (including legialtive drafting), hospitality as well as environment and marine resources.

The Victoria University alumni boasts a long list of Cook Islanders including the late Sir Geoffrey Henry, Tere Mataio, Wilkie Rasmussen, Tingika Elikana, Myra Patai and Anne Herman-Fua.

Friday 1st June 2012 

Minister of Health Nandi Glassie met with Chinese Ambassador Xu Jianguao in Wellington on 30 May to discuss possible future co-operation in the health sector.  Minister Glassie, who has just returned from the World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assembly in Geneva was following up earlier discussions on possible co-operation with China in the health sector.

“The Cook Islands is particularly interested in a possible exchange program for health practitioners between the Cook Islands and China,” said Minister Glassie.  “Also of interest to the Cook Islands is Chinese expertise in the area of acupuncture and herbal medicine and we hope in the coming months to discuss how this might be possible with the Chinese Government.”

The Ministry of Health will host a visit by a delegation of medical practitioners from the Quangdong province to the Cook Islands later this year where it is hoped more detailed discussions can be held on a possible cooperation program between the two countries in the health sector.

In 2011, the Cook Islands hosted a cultural performance team from the Quangdong province who performed during the International segment of the Constitution Celebrations.  It is envisaged a similar team will again visit this year to perform dances and songs from the Quangdong province.

Minister Glassie also discussed with the Ambassador possible co-operation in Agriculture, specifically acquisition of seeds by the Cook Islands from China.  “China has extensive expertise in the area of agriculture which the Cook Islands hope to draw on in the coming months,” said Minister Glassie.

 - The Cook Islands' support for the multiple global benefits of the CTBT

by Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands’ support for international efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons and halt nuclear weapons
testing can best be understood at three different but inter-related levels.

From the initial settlement centuries ago of the fifteen islands in the centre of the South Pacific that history has subsequently come to know as ‘the Cook Islands’, there has been an intimate cultural and economic relationship between Cook Islanders and the surrounding ocean. From birth, generations of Cook Islanders have had a deep appreciation that the ‘Moana Nui o Kiva’, the great Pacific Ocean, is not only a
maritime highway, connecting one island to another, but also the marine farm from which Cook Islanders harvest a major part of their daily sustenance. Any activities threatening the degradation of the marine
environment would be unacceptable.

Tuesday 20th March 2012

His Excellency, Mr. Jesús Miguel Sanz Escorihuela, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, is visiting the Cook Islands from Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 March 2012. The purpose of Ambassador Sanz Escorihuela’s visit is to present his credentials to the Cook Islands Government and to hold discussions with Government on bilateral and international relations.

Diplomatic Relations between the Cook Islands and the Kingdom of Spain were established in 1998. This year will mark the 14th anniversary of the establishment of relations.

The Kingdom of Spain is a member of the European Union and contributes to the European Development Fund (EDF), the EU’s main development cooperation instrument.  As a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, the Cook Islands has benefited from significant EU assistance since 2000 when it first became a member of the Group.  Assistance to date has been in the areas of health and education, water and sanitation and, most recently construction of the Pukapuka Cyclone Shelter.

Discussions between the two Governments on possible fisheries cooperation are ongoing.

Ambassador Sanz Escorihuela is based in Wellington and is accompanied to the Cook Islands by his family.