Caption: Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and Solomon Islands Prime Minister in Honiara.Photo:SUPPLIED.
Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola held talks with the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara this week.
The Fijian Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Sogavare discussed areas of mutual interest between the two countries, including the current Air Services Agreement (ASA) impasse.
Discussions also looked at bilateral agreements between the two countries including Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on education cooperation, agricultural & business cooperation and bio-security & police trainings that require assessment and follow up.
Hon. Sogavare also acknowledged the work of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) within the Pacific Region and its impression of being inclusive, development focused and action oriented.
The meeting allowed the Fijian Foreign Minister to personally congratulate the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Fijian Government, his appointment following elections in December last year.
Earlier in the week, Minister Kubuabola met his Solomon Islands counterpart, Hon. Milner Tozaka in Honiara. The two Ministers agreed to continue engaging in talks on the Air Services Agreement through civil aviation agencies for both countries. Minister Kubuabola and Minister Tozaka also agreed to hold further discussions in Suva this month to consider and formalize their respective understandings in resolving the air services impasse.
The Ministers also re-affirmed their full commitment to remain engaged on issues of common interest to maintain and further strengthen bilateral relations between both countries.
DEPTFO