Foreign relations of the Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands' foreign policy as of 2008 was described by the Solomons' government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes. [ [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2359355.htm?tab=pacific "Rethink for Solomons diplomatic missions"] , ABC Radio Australia, September 9, 2008]

Diplomatic Representation

Countries with diplomatic missions in the Solomon Islands are the Australia, Republic of China, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and United Kingdom. The U.S. Ambassador resident in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea is also accredited to Solomon Islands. France, Germany, Sweden, South Korea and Malaysia have Honorary Consuls.

The Solomon Islands has diplomatic missions in Canberra, Papua New Guinea, Taipei, at the United Nations in New York, where the ambassador there is also accredited as its ambassador to the United States of America and High Commissioner to Canada and at the European Commission in Brussels where the representative is also accredited as High Commissioner to the UK.

Relations with the United Kingdom

Bilateral relations with the UK remain strong. The UK’s bilateral aid programme in the Solomon Islands ended in early 2004 when the UK’s regional aid programme came to a close. However UK funding through the EU, the largest multilateral donor to the Solomon Islands, will continue. The UK contributes almost 15% of the EU development budget in the Solomon Islands. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office assistance to the Solomon Islands is focussed on security sector reform, good governance, sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Among the activities supported in the last two years are: education on HIV/AIDS, rural clinics, collective farming and empowerment of women. Sir Nathaniel Waena, the Governor-General of The solomon Islands visited the UK in 2006 to celebrate the Queen's 80th Birthday

Relations with Papua New Guinea

Relations with Papua New Guinea, which had become strained because of an influx of refugees from the Bougainville rebellion and attacks on the northern islands of the Solomon Islands by elements pursuing Bougainvillean rebels, have been repaired. A peace accord on Bougainville confirmed in 1998 has removed the armed threat, but refugee return has been slow.

Relations between the current governments of Prime Minister Derek Sikua (Solomon Islands) and Prime Minister Michael Somare (Papua New Guinea) are, at present, cordial [ [http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwid=1263 "Sikua Government Values Diplomatic Relations"] , Joanna Sireheti, "Solomon Times", January 23, 2008] .

Relations with Australia

Relations with Australia were, until recently, strained, with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare accusing Australia of "heavy-handed" interference in the Solomon Island's domestic affairs, subsequently expelling Australia's High Commissioner to the country Patrick Cole. In a nationally televised address, Sogavare claimed that the Australian-led security forces in the Solomons had not dealt properly with the country's underlying problems. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1743337.htm Howard stands by Solomons ambassador. 18/09/2006. ABC News Online ] ]

"We are concerned that Canberra's policies are aimed at excluding and containing the peoples of the region, instead of working collectively to address fundamental problems of social instability that can only be solved through dialogue, rather than the use of development aid, and political force as leverage, to dictate Australia's involvement"

Sogavare also claimed that Australia's involment in the region could be "driving this country down the path of another conflict that could be more serious" than the April 2006 riots that broke out after an election won by the former deputy prime minister Snyder Rini, when thousands of anti-government protesters burned down buildings in the Solomon Island's capital Honiara's Chinese district, alleging that either the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China had paid lawmakers to vote for Rini. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5355220.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Solomons PM criticises Australia ] ]

Sogavare's successor, Prime Minister Derek Sikua, almost immediately set out to mend relations with Australia upon assuming office in December 2007 [ [http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwid=1261 "Strained Relations on the Mend"] , Nina Tuhaika, "Solomon Times", January 23, 2008] .

Relations with China

The Solomon Islands has diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (as opposed to the People's Republic of China), which has a resident representative in Honiara.

Relations with Cuba

In the late 2000s, the Solomon Islands began to strengthen their relations with Cuba.

In April 2007, the "Solomon Star" reported that the Solomon Islands’ High Commissioner to the United Nations was soon to be sworn in as Ambassador to Cuba [ [http://www.solomonstarnews.com/?q=node/13688 solomonstarnews.com ] ] . In September 2007, it was announced that 40 Cuban doctors would be sent to the Solomon Islands [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2030359.htm] . The Solomons’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Patterson Oti said that Solomon Islander doctors would "learn from their Cuban colleagues in specialized areas" [ [http://www.solomonstarnews.com/?q=node/13243 solomonstarnews.com ] ] . In addition to providing doctors, Cuba provided scholarships for 50 Solomon Islanders to study medicine in Cuba for free [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38300 Cuban-trained doctors sorely needed in Solomons ] ] .

In September 2008, the Solomon Islands' foreign minister William Haomae attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana, aimed at "strengthening cooperation", notably in coping with the impact of climate change. [ [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2366887.htm?tab=latest "Cuba-Pacific ministerial meeting underway in Havana"] , ABC Radio Australia, September 17, 2008]

Relations with Switzerland

The Solomon Islands and Switzerland established formal diplomatic relations on December 20, 2007, when representatives of both nations signed a joint communiqué in Canberra, Australia. cite news |first=|last=|title= Solomon Islands Establish Diplomatic Relations with Switzerland |url= http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=1128 |work= Solomon Times |publisher= |date=2007-12-20 |accessdate=2007-12-20] Victor Ngele, High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to Australia, and Christian Muhlethaler, Ambassador of Switzerland to Australia, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

Main Multilateral Involvement

Solomon Islands is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth, South Pacific Commission, South Pacific Forum, International Monetary Fund, and the European Economic Community/African, Caribbean, Pacific Group (EEC/ACP)/(Lome Convention).

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, Commonwealth of Nations, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

References

External links

* [http://www.solomons.org.tw/ Embassy of Solomon Islands in Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan)]
* [http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=1128 Solomon Islands Establish Diplomatic Relations with Switzerland]
* [http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=1662 "Foreign Policy Should be Driven by Rational Dialogue"] , "Solomon Times", April 22, 2008