NO PROBLEM AHEAD FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS POST RAMSI

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The Security Treaty to be signed between Solomon Islands and Australia in the near future will allow Australia to help Solomon Islands out of any further security issues in the post-RAMSI era.  Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare echoed this sentiment prior to the week long program of celebrations in Honiara to farewell RAMSI.
The Prime Minister in a recent interview for the Farewell RAMSI Radio program on the National Broadcaster, SIBC said, “The whole event (Farewell RAMSI Celebrations) marks a new chapter for Solomon Islanders to step forward and take ownership of this country, take ownership of government policies and our national direction.
The Prime Minister said the good thing that Solomon Islanders must be reminded of on the eve of the RAMSI departure is that RAMSI will not take away with it the potentials of Solomon Islands when it leaves.  He was referring to the country’s  human and natural resources. 
Rather, he said RAMSI created a good environment for Solomon Islands to develop these potentials to ensure a brighter future.

PM Sogavare (Photo Credit RAMSI)
The Prime Minister added that the country’s geographical location in the Pacific is strategically convenient for greater ports development, adding that he sees a bright future for Solomon Islands.
He said the commitment by Solomon Islands development partners towards the country’s development aspirations are as strong as ever.
“European Union is there, that covers the entire European block. We have Australia and New Zealand just next door.  We are the third largest recipient of Australian Aid in the world.
“We are still seeing that commitment by our development partners are as strong as ever. The last thing that Australia and New Zealand and our Pacific Island neighbours would want to see is this country collapse again.  It’s in their interest to see Solomon Islands continue to function as a nation.” 
Prime Minister Sogavare added that, “ What RAMSI did was that it provided the necessary resources to bring the country back to the level we are now at and this level is in line with the level that aid donors are participating in terms of development assistance and I see no problem ahead."

ENDS///




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