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June 06, 2007
Traditional Leaders
Members of the Nitijela and Local Governments present here
Delegates to the Leaders in Conservation Conference
Ladies and Gentlemen
Friends and Host NGO partners
Iokwe
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and I bring warm words of ‘iokwe’ to all of us here and to welcome our friends and leaders in conservation from the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Northern Marianas, Palau and friends from Organizations who are here supporting this week’s retreat.
At the outset, I wish to convey our gratitude for the invitation to open this important event of which I understand a number of Issues critical to the conservation of our natural resources and environment will be discussed. These issues are at the heart of our livelihoods.
You are all here also because we share common resources by way of our very large combined EEZ – an EEZ of vast oceans I believe to be one of the largest in the World.
Our marine resources are many and our terrestrial resources are unique. Yet, our Islands are amongst the most vulnerable to a number of sustainable development concerns, including waste and pollution, depleting resources, trans-boundary issues and the devastating issue of climate change, the impacts of which will halt and undermine all efforts towards meeting our sustainable development goals.
I am pleased therefore that much work nationally and regionally is on-going, including new activities through our recently endorsed Micronesia Challenge.
To this regard, it is my pleasure to convey results of some of the work that the focal points for the Challenge have carried out for our Countries with the support of the Micronesian Leaders-these include support of the Global Environmental Facility CEO to back up our request for 6 million dollars per Country (FSM, RMI and Palau) as matching for the 6 million dollars combined from The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International which I understand will be incorporated into a Trust. The initial discussions of details will begin possibly this August between the Focal Points and the GEFSec in Guam. It is important though that we understand the GEF has difficult procedures, the process of which generally takes a long time for completion. Therefore, the timing of the final decision for transfer of funds to the Trust has still to be worked out and will take time.
However, what is important here is that we have gained support from the GEF to include the Micronesia Challenge into the GEF’s upcoming work programme. Thus, May to December this year will be used by the Governments of the MC through the focal points to participate in the negotiations of the new programme of work structure for the GEF to ensure that we have a voice in the new programme.
This is good news but perhaps enough news for now. I draw your attention though that while the focal points continue with their work as the Governments have endorsed, I believe activities at the national levels should continue within the existing national plans as these were already a part of our priorities, even without the Challenge.
Accordingly, our limited human and financial resources require efforts to be complimentary to the existing systems and plans. Thus, I encourage everyone here to work not in isolation in addressing the Challenge but in collaboration with your Governments to ensure that activities are not duplicated but resources are effectively used.
Similarly, the Government views that to reach our Sustainable Development goals under the Vision 2018, a number of activities are best carried out by non-governmental partners, local governments and communities in partnership with the Government and Traditional Leaders. This strategy is intended to promote effective use of our limited resources.
Finally, it is our view that much work has been done thus far by the Countries, but more needs to be done. And this gathering of you-the Leaders in Conservation from all over Micronesia is a testimony of your desire to protect and safeguard the precious resources of our Island Nations for our future generations.
To conclude my remarks, we reaffirm our Government’s assurance to work towards achieving the goals of the Micronesia Challenge together with Parties in our excellent Micronesian spirit.
My warmest ‘komol tata’ to you all for the invitation to speak. To our friends visiting from the rest of Micronesia, I hope that you will have sometime to enjoy Majuro and experience the hospitality of our people.
Bar iokwe
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