In his Courtesy visit to the Hon. Prime Minister, Jotham NAPAT, on the 14^th of March 2025, His Excellency Dirk WAGENER, the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) for the Pacific, exchange constructive views on issues of collaboration and mutual interest.

Initially, the Hon. Prime Minister welcome the UNRC, and commend his strong leadership in supporting the Vanuatu NSDP 2030 priorities. Words of acknowledgement extended to the UNRC for the humanitarian support by the UN during the aftermath of cyclone Pam, the twin Judy and Keven, Harold, Volcanic ash in Tanna, and the recent post 7.4 magnitude earthquake.

The UNRC congratulate the PM on his election and formally conveys congratulations on behalf of the UN Secretary-General to the Government. He re-affirmed that UN remains committed to working closely with the new Government to advance key priorities, including climate change, recovery, and the SDGs, in these critical times.

With regards to the International Climate Change Advisory Opinion (ICJ) on the Climate Change initiative, the Hon Prime Minister highlights that Vanuatu with other Climate vulnerable countries, including SIDS, made some strong and convincing arguments in favour of the initiative. The Advisory Opinion (AO) outcome is expected for in mid-2025, and will be brough back to the UNGA for a resolution on the AO outcome. Accordingly, he solicits the support of UN in ensuring that the AO decision be placed as an agenda for the Sept/Oct 2025 on the UN calendar. Hon NAPAT also points out that while we may not have a consensus, like the initial UNGA resolution advising the ICJ to take on the AO proceedings, given the anticipated sensitivity of the ICJAO outcome, we remain hopeful for a wide majority of support from the UN members.

Hon PM also seeks UN Support on the United Nation Peace Keeping deployment for our Police and Military Officers. He requests for the UNRC to work with the United Nations Peace Keeping Operation (UNKPO) to ensure the deployment of the 6 officers that are selected, after pre-deployment training in Jakarta in 2024, to be deployed to South Sudan as per prior arrangements.

Furthermore, the Hon. Prime Minister confirmed that COM, since yesterday, has endorsed for the re-collocation of the United Nations Joint Presence Office (UNJPO) in Vanuatu to the ABC Center Building, as per our Host Country Agreements. In the long-term plan, PM alluded that COM endorse to provide Land for a UN House purposely to expand UN Presence in country, hence, more support by UN to the Government and people of Vanuatu.

In responding to the Hon. PM’s soliciting views on the President Trump abrupt Executive Order withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the WHO and USAID, Mr.WAGENER, affirm that UN Charter allows for UN reform, and correspondingly, UN will reform its institutions to carter for the funding losses. He further affirmed that SIDS, like Vanuatu, are a priority group under UN for at least the forthcoming decades given our vulnerability, and the funding loss will not be felt heavily within our region.

Inshore Traditional Jurisdiction successfully piloted.

The Oceans office under the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is pleased to announce the recent evaluation of a traditionally managed marine protected area in Laone, North Pentecost.

In June 2024 the Hon. Prime Minister launched Vanuatu’s Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) document for Vanuatu. The MSP document is currently a working document and provides two important ocean jurisdictions, which are namely the offshore and inshore MSP jurisdictions. One important component of the inshore MSP is the traditional jurisdiction which begins from mean high water mark to the reef +100 meters.

During the Nationwide Marine Spatial Plan consultation in 2020, the chiefs of Laone Community agreed to designate their inshore MSP to be managed under a traditional governance system. A traditional ceremony was performed by high chiefs of Laone village, including former Prime Minister Vanua-Roroa Ham Lini, on the 20th of February 2020, hence the closure of the Laone-Lamana Traditionally Marine Protected Area.

Prior to the establishment of the Laone-Lamalana traditional marine protected area, a rapid biodiversity assessment was undertaken with the support of Vanuatu Fisheries Department along with Oceans Intern (ECOPs). The result of the biodiversity baseline assessments clearly indicates that the designated marine area has been seriously over exploited by both human activities and climate change.

In 2022 the Oceans team undertook its first review on the traditional governance system managing the protected area and also reviewed the biodiversity baseline assessment. The results of the biodiversity baseline assessment showed that the marine resources, namely fish and the coral reef ecosystem has recovered owing to the robust traditional governance system in place.

In October 2024, the Oceans team again re-assessed the traditional governance and the marine biodiversity of Laone-Lamalana Traditional Marine Protected Area.

The Laone village council who is the authority managing the Laone-Lamalana Marine Protected Area continues to remain very powerful. As a result of a strong governance system in place, the marine biodiversity baseline assessment shows tremendous improvement to marine biodiversity within the designated protected area including fish and coral reefs.

A full report on the outcome of various assessments, including climate change impact on the coastal area, marine biodiversity, tourism hotspots, challenges, opportunities and way forward will be published.

Link to full article can be downloaded here:        Marine Spatial Plan 

The Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade of the Republic of Vanuatu, Honorable MP Matai Seremaiah Nawalu has concluded his first official visit to Riyadh that is aimed in strengthening relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During his time in Riyadh the Deputy Prime Minister met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Highness Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and their discussions focused on advancing issues of mutual interest and identifying opportunities that would enhance long term bilateral cooperation.

The Deputy Prime Minister also met with the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development to advance commitments to the upgrade of Pekoa International Airport.

On the occasion of the visit the Saudi Government announced another grant of US$1million to support implementation of Vanuatu’s development priorities.

From Riyadh the Deputy Prime Minister travels to Belgrade for the first official visit by the Government of Vanuatu to the Republic of Serbia.

20 October 2024, Riyadh

The Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Mr. Matai Seremaiah Nawalu's participation in the high-level meeting with World Bank President Mr. Ajay Banga in Suva last week, highlights key issues for Vanuatu and the Pacific region. The discussions centered on the closure of correspondent banking relationships, which affect financial services, and debt distress, impacting economic stability. The meeting also emphasized the importance of accessing climate funds to enhance resilience. Pacific leaders endorsed the World Bank's Pacific Strengthening Correspondent Banking Project, aiming to tackle the challenges of de-risking and de-banking, which could significantly benefit the region's financial connectivity and economic stability.

Image: ForumSec, Suva, 6 Sept 2024