Group Statements of the PIF Group in New York for the year 2002-2003 delivered by the Permanent Mission of Fiji (2002-2003 Chair of the PIF Forum in New York).

The Pacific Islands Forum, formerly the South Pacific Forum, is the political grouping of independent and self-governing states of the Pacific. The Forum was established in 1971 to provide member states with the opportunity to express their joint political views and to cooperate in areas of political and economic concern.

The 16 Forum member countries are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. New Caledonia was admitted to the Forum in 1999 as an Observer.

The Forum is chaired on a rotating basis by the Head of the host Government for the annual meeting of Forum Leaders. The Forum has dialogue partnerships with Canada, People's Republic of China, European Union, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, United Kingdom and United States.

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is based in Suva, Fiji and is funded by contributions from member governments and donors. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General who is responsible to the Forum and to the Forum Officials Committee (made up of representatives of all Forum governments) which oversights the Secretariat's activities.

The Secretary General is also permanent Chair of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (GROP) which bring together eight main regional organisations in the Pacific Region:

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)
Pacific Islands Development Programme (PIDP)
Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC)
South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO)
University of the South Pacific (USP)

Contact Address:

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Ratu Sukuna Road, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji
Email: info@forumsec.org.fj
Web: www.forumsec.org.fj
Tel: (679) 312-600
Fax: (679) 301-102