BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was being hypocritical on what it usually speaks of, ‘leaving no one behind’.
Sogavare made the bold statement during The Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan double ten celebrations at the Mendana Hotel on Tuesday this week celebrating their national day.
“As a special and dear friend to us, when you look just beyond our near abroad, you would realise Solomon Islands has always been consistent with the principles of self-determination, whether in Melanesia or Polynesia.
“That is why in the recent UNGA in New York I spoke passionately to advocate for Taiwan, just like previous leaders have done.
“Our future leaders will still do the same unashamedly,” Prime Minister Sogavare strongly stated.
Sogavare then added that this is one principle where the two countries (SI and ROC Taiwan) interests are anchored in consistent unison, when big boys and big interests have turned a blind eye to an issue that has never been able to decouple the two countries for well over three decades.
“We have consistently done so with UN organs such as the World Health Organization, where we have pushed for Taiwan’s full membership and participation.
“When I spoke at the UNGA I said the assembly usually speaks of ‘leaving no one behind’, yet the General Assembly was hypocritical in doing the opposite for Taiwan, which was willing to contribute to a wide range of substantive UN programmes for the welfare of humanity,” the PM said.
Sogavare then said that he had just returned from Taiwan, where he witnessed the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) and Kaohsiung Ports Authorities.
This, Sogavare added, is a milestone achievement given that Kaohsiung is among the five busiest sea ports in the world.
It is also a milestone for the DCC’s Public-Private Partnership policy.
“I met President Tsai Ing-Wen in Taipei to reaffirm our special relationship, and discussed new and current areas of Taiwan’s development cooperation to Solomon Islands,” Prime Minister Sogavare added.
