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Aid donors’ mission flying into Honiara
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Posted on Nov 01 2000
Honiara (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online) – An aid donors mission led by the World Bank arrives in Honiara today to assess the economic and social impact of the two-year ethnic tension in Solomon Islands.
Finance Secretary George Kiriau told SIBC News the mission will also include representatives from Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom.
Mr. Kiriau explains the mission, which will be in Honiara for ten days, is important because its assessments and recommendations will be used as a basis for assistance from aid donors.
He says the focus will possibly be on emergency assistance to enable Solomon Islands to recover from the crisis.
Mr. Kiriau emphasizes that the World Bank and other aid donors have sent the mission to Solomon Islands because of recognition of the progress made so far in the peace process, including the signing of the Townsville Peace Agreement.
He urged all parties concerned to ensure a successful implementation of the agreement so that aid donors can assist Solomon Islands economy recover quickly.
Mr. Kiriau added that the International Monetary Fund will also be sending a mission to Solomon Islands on 4th November to look at further ways of assisting the country.
In other developments:
The Isatabu Freedom Movement has again pledged its full commitment to the Townsville Peace Agreement.
The commitment was publicly reiterated by its Western Region Supreme Commander Joseph Sangu, who brushed aside rumors that the Isatabu Freedom Movement is planning to make attacks on the Russell islands.
He said such assumptions can only be made by people who want to discredit the Isatabu Freedom Movement, which supported the recently signed Townsville Peace Agreement.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sangu confirmed that its Western region leaders will start collecting arms from former militants as soon as the government provides logistic support to cover the three zones in the region.
