This week our links are focused on the Pacific Islands Forum taking place in Koror, Palau.
- On the Devpolicy blog, Seini O'Connor asks: what can the people of our region expect of the regionalism project?
- Islands Business provides a detailed backgrounder on what Pacific leaders will be addressing at the 45th Pacific Islands Forum meeting.
- For the second year running, Australia's prime minister is not attending the Forum. Whilst Tony Abbott's absence may be understandable, it represents a missed opportunity.
- In his opening speech, President Tommy Remengesau of Palau stressed the importance of ocean health for Pacific island countries. Further to last year's Forum meeting, which included the adoption of the Majuro Declaration, the impacts of climate change in the region will be a key issue for discussion.
- PNG is using the Forum meeting to further establish itself as a regional aid donor. Its delegation has been lobbying hard for the appointment of Dame Meg Taylor as the new Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat. She is one of five candidates; whoever gets the job will have plenty to deal with.
- Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo of Solomon Islands will be presenting an independent review of RAMSI to leaders that was commissioned by the Forum and the Government of Solomon Islands.
- Prime minister Enele Sopoaga of Tuvalu has used the Forum as a platform to advocate for changes to the 'Least Developed Country' graduation processes, an issue which also affects other Forum members.
- There have been calls for Forum leaders to follow the lead of the Melanesian Spearhead Group and discuss West Papua at its meeting, but this will most likely go unheeded.