By Tupuola Terry Tavita In Auckland

Government leaders, heads of top international organizations and funding agencies were moved this afternoon by an emotional address by American Samoa governor Togiola Talalelei Tulafono.

It was an address that best highlighted the importance, and relevance, of the Pacific Islands Forum – for small island governments, territories and Pacific people – in this, its fortieth year anniversary.

American Samoa – during the PIF plenary session at the SkyCity convention center – presented its application for Forum observer status.

“I’m deeply humbled to address this prestigious gathering of Pacific Islands leaders this afternoon. This is a landmark moment for the people of American Samoa,�? said Governor Togiola.

“Today is the beginning of our journey. Perhaps someday, in achieving full Forum membership. To seek full nationhood, full political independence or to maintain our current status with the United States of America – if our children should choose to do so.

“I may not be around when that time comes, but it will be up to the next generation to decide the future of American Samoa.�?

Governor Togiola thanked Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi “for his encouragement “and U.S Secretary of State Mrs Hillary Clinton “for conferring the opportunity to apply for observer status (in the Forum).�?

“American Samoa is part of the greater nation of Samoa, a part of the Pacific Islands family and is also a part of the great United States of America.�?Governor Togiola’s discourse was warmly received by the capacity international audience.

Said Prime Minister Tuilaepa;“This is a great opportunity for American Samoa to gain first-hand experience of the integral problems and wider issues such as climate change facing all small nations of the Pacific today. There are endless opportunities worldwide that Samoa can so easily access because of our independent status.�?

American Samoa is a full member of the South Pacific Commission (SPC) and the Apia-based South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

“It is also an opportunity (for American Samoa) to look at the scope of international development funding being made available to small island states apart from the traditional funding American Samoa has gotten used to,�? said Tuilaepa.

Chaired by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, the session was attended by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Pacific Island government leaders, United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon, Commonwealth Secretary-General Mr Kamalesh Sharma, President of the European Union  Mr Javier Solana, the Asian Development Bank executive and a host representatives of many other leading international organizations.

TAHITI

But while the U.S has had a somewhat pleasant history with its Samoan territory, Tahiti Nui’s experience with the French has not.

“Tahiti has suffered from 170 years of French colonialism,�? French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru stated to the Forum when he took the floor.

He went on to detail the impact of French colonialism on Tahiti Nui culture, history, social and economic development and the environment.

President Temaru pleaded with the Pacific Islands Forum and its leaders to pressure France to reinstate French Polynesia to the United Nation’s Decolonization list.

Said Prime Minister Tuilaepa,

“Samoa fully supports the call by Tahiti Nui to be reinstated to the U.N’s decolonization list.

“It is amazing that in this modern age, indigenous people who want to govern themselves are being denied the right to do so. The people of Tahiti Nui have every right to pursue their wish for self-government and to revive their Polynesian pride and identity.�?

He added;

“New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna are like Tahiti Nui who are not full members yet of the Pacific Forum.

Also in the periphery of the Forum, there has been a longstanding call on the Forum to address the issue of West Papuan independence though it has not appeared in its (Forum) communiqué.�?

On the wider Forum, he said,“From the original membership of seven independent nations in 1971, the Forum has grown to 16 fully independent member countries this year including Fiji, whose membership has been suspended temporarily pending its return to democratic government, good governance and the rule of law.

“Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas?  They have all been granted the opportunity by the United States government to apply for observer status in the Pacific Forum.

“This year’s forum is being hosted by New Zealand to coincide with the staging of the Rugby World Cup – which the New Zealand All Blacks hopes to win.�?

The tournament also includes Pacific Island rugby minnows, but formidable, teams from Samoa, Tonga and Fiji and the Australian Wallabies.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa said that there has been “a lot of light-hearted banter�? between the leaders during the PIF sessions on who will take the Cup home in six weeks.

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