12 February 2010

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration has been busy co-ordinating requests for assistance to rebuild Aitutaki – from regional and international sources, according to Secretary Mike Mitchell.

“We have been promised $20,000 from the Forum Secretariat immediately – which should defray some of the transport costs – we have also been encouraged to contact the World Bank regional office in Sydney, the Asian Development Bank regional office and the SOPAC office in Fiji.

Mr Mitchell said that there were other sources of funds still to be tapped.

“We are working with Aid Management, the Ministry of Finance and all those involved, to get Aitutaki back on its feet as soon as possible.  I understand New Zealand and Australia are closely following the initial assessment.”

The Deputy Prime Minister travelled to Wellington on 02 February 2010, accompanied by the Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

On Wednesday 3rd of February, he visited the office of the Hon Phil Heatley, Minister of Fisheries for New Zealand, and signed the Treaty known as the ‘Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean’ – (‘SPRFMO’). 

Wednesday 16 September 2009

His Excellency, Mr. Toshihiro Takahashi, the Ambassador of Japan is visiting the Cook Islands from 13 to 17 September 2009. The Ambassador is here at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Honourable Jim Marurai who attended the meeting of Pacific Island Countries and Japan Leaders (PALM) in Japan.

During his visit Ambassador Takahashi paid courtesy calls on members of Cabinet including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration Sir Terepai Maoate. 

The DPM welcomed the visit of Ambassador Takahashi as a useful opportunity to explore ways in which the two Governments could collaborate, both bilaterally and multilaterally for the benefit of both countries.  “The Cook Islands appreciate Japan’s continued support and assistance to Pacific Island Countries, including the Cook Islands.  The Cook Islands would welcome the formalisation of diplomatic relations with Japan as a significant positive step forward in the relationship between our two countries”.

In previous years, Japan has been an important export market for Cook Islands black pearls, fish and noni.  Between 1999 and 2006, the Cook Islands received from Japan some $8million in technical cooperation assistance primarily through short term training courses for Cook Islanders to Japan.

Japan has also been very supportive of disaster preparedness and response initiatives in the Pacific region including through financial support to the Cook Islands Red Cross society.

Ambassador Takashi was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Kaori Takahashi on this visit.

The Cook Islands Constitution Day Celebrations were held on the 4th August 2009 at the National Auditorium. This year the Maeva Nui (Constitution Celebrations) will be held prior to the Mini Games. 

The Trade Policy Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration in collaboration with the Cook Islands Business Trade & Investment Board have just completed a series of consultations during the week of 19-23 January 2009 in preparations for the third round of PICTA negotiations.  The extensive consultations is to ensure the private sector, government and non-state actors interests are taken into account given the complexity of services sector liberalization and the impact of the commitments the Cook Islands makes to its service sector.  Upon finalizing the Cook Islands schedule by its trade officials, a policy paper will be drawn up to present to the Minister and Cabinet for endorsement ready for the third round of negotiations in March 2009.

JANUARY

1st January  Cuba National Liberation Day

26th January  Australia Day

26th January  India Republic Day

31st January  Nauru Independence Day

FEBRUARY

6th February  New Zealand Waitangi Day (1840)

11th February  Iran Victory of the Islamic Revolution

On Tuesday 15th December the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration headed out to Arorangi to put together some ideas on the direction for the Ministry.

To understand where the Ministry was going the Ministry had to know where it had been. Liz Koteka from the Office of the Prime Minister was very helpful in facilitating this exercise.

Two groups were formed - the present and the future. The present group highlighted the areas that were currently being focused on. The future group focused on the direction of the Ministry in the short to medium term and the long run.