Foreign relations of the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has 2 diplomatic Missions, a High Commission in New Zealand and an Embassy accredited to the European Union in Brussels. The Cook Islands Ambassador to the EU was HE Mr Todd McClay. Mr McClay has however retired from that position and moved back to New Zealand to successfully contest the Roturua seat in the 2008 New Zealand General Election. Mr James Gosselin, the Cook Islands Secretary of Foreign Affairs, currently serves as the Cook Islands non-resident representative to the European Union resident in Rarotonga.

In 1992, after receiving declaration by New Zealand and the gradual evolution of the Cook Islands responsibility for its own foreign affairs, the UN the Secretariat recognized the full treaty-making capacity of the Cook Islands.^[1]

In 2000 the Cook Islands government signed the Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Upon signature of this agreement the Cook Islands Government established a representation to the EU in Brussels. In 2002 this representation was upgraded to a full diplomatic mission with accreditation to the European Union. The establishment of this mission marked an important development in Cook Islands international relations representing the first full diplomatic mission established by the Cook Islands outside of Pacific countries.

The Cook Islands Mission to the European Communities interacts with European Union Institutions, the ACP Group of States and other bilateral country representations and embassies.

Diplomatic Relations

The following countries have established formal diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands through the conclusion of joint communiqués and the like and/or seeking the accreditation of High Commissioners/Ambassadors:^[2]

Oceania

• Australia* 1994
• Fiji* 1998
• Nauru 1994
• New Zealand* 1993
• Papua New Guinea 1995

Europe

• Belgium* 6 Apr 2005
• Bosnia and Herzegovina* 10 Apr 1996
• Czech Republic 2008
• European Union 2001
• France 2000
• Germany* 11 Sep 2001
• Holy See* 29 Apr 1999
• Ireland 2008 (pending)^{[citation needed]}
• Italy* 21 Feb 2002
• Monaco 2007 or before ^[3]
• Norway 1998
• Netherlands 16 Aug 2011^[4]
• Portugal* 12 Aug 1995
• Spain 29 Jan 1998
• Switzerland 2011^[5]
• Turkey 9 April 2008

Asia

• People's Republic of China* 25 Jul 1997
• India 1998
• Iran* 1 Mar 1996
• Israel * 2008 ^[6]
• Malaysia 2 May 1992
• Thailand* April 2005
• Timor-Leste* 17 Aug 2002
• Japan 16 Jun 2011^[7]

Americas

• Cuba* 2 Sep 2002
• Jamaica May 2003
• United States* 1994 or before ^[8]

Africa

• South Africa* 9 Feb 1996

Notes

(* diplomatic envoys have been accredited or agréments issued and credentials remain to be presented)

International organization participation

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, WHO, WMO, SOPAC
• Party to the following treaties and conventions: ACP (Cotounu Convention), Biodiversity Convention, POPs Project, UNCCD, UNCLOS, UNFCCC and its Kyoto protocol, CTBT, Convention of the International Mobile Satellite Organization.^[9], Facility Agreement with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization ^[10]

In November 2011, the Cook Islands were one of the eight founding members of Polynesian Leaders Group, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.^[11][12][13]

See also

• List of diplomatic missions of the Cook Islands
• List of diplomatic missions in the Cook Islands
• Foreign relations of Niue
• Foreign relations of New Zealand
• Politics of the Cook Islands

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands Government
• Cook Islands analysis
• The Cook Islands’ unique constitutional and international status
• Cook Islands Representatives Overseas, 2006
• Diplomatic Relations List 2011

References

1. ^ Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs Supplement No. 8; page 10
2. ^ http://www.mfai.gov.ck/index.php/foreign-affairs.html
3. ^ Ordonnance Souveraine n° 1.259 du 10 août 2007 auto risant à exercer les fonctions de Consul honoraire des Iles Cook dans Notre Principauté. (Journal de Monaco Bulletin Officiel de la Principautè)
4. ^ Cook Islands and Netherlands establish diplomatic relations
5. ^ http://www.mfai.gov.ck/index.php/news/19-general/149-cook-islands-and-switzerland-establish-diplomatic-relations.html
6. ^ Diplomatic relations list 2009
7. ^ [1]
8. ^ US ambassador accredited to the Cook Islands
9. ^ http://www.imso.org/member_states.asp
10. ^ http://www.ctbto.org/press-centre/press-releases/2000/cook-islands-tenth-state-signatory-to-have-signed-facility-agreement/
11. ^ "NZ may be invited to join proposed ‘Polynesian Triangle’ ginger group", Pacific Scoop, 19 September 2011
12. ^ "New Polynesian Leaders Group formed in Samoa", Radio New Zealand International, 18 November 2011
13. ^ "American Samoa joins Polynesian Leaders Group, MOU signed", Savali, 19 November 2011