Pacific Islands Forum leaders approve plan on greater cooperation

[struggle4progress]

Pacific Islands Forum leaders agreed on a Pacific plan at a special mini-summit in Auckland on Tuesday to give their formal backing to a report on a new "vision for the region" to focus on economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.<snip>In its report, the eminent persons group said that trans-national, regional and domestic security issues were likely to dominate the forum's attention for the next few years.<snip>... it reflected recent crises within the Pacific.<snip>New Zealand and Australia have tried to talk down expectations of a formal union, but Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase confirmed it was an idea on the table.
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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-04/07/content_1406202.htm