By NAVNEET NARAYAN
Practical actions that advance the economic, social, and environmental well-being will be at the heart of discussions among government and civil society representatives from island states in Barbados from August 28-30 as they prepare for the global UN Conference on Small Island Developing States that will be held in Apia, Samoa, on September 1-4, 2014.
Small island developing states adopted regional positions at meetings that took place this July in Jamaica, Fiji, and the Seychelles that have identified a number of practical and pragmatic actions that could be taken by all countries to accelerate implementation of the outcome of the two previous conference on small island developing states, in Barbados in 1994, and Mauritius in 2005.
The Barbados meeting represents the final opportunity for small island developing states to agree among themselves on common negotiating positions for the Conference prior to the start of the formal preparatory process. After January when the global preparatory process is launched, all 193 member states will participate in the preparatory process leading up to the Apia meeting.
Fiji is represented at the meeting by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and his ministry’s Director Political and Treaties, Esala Nayasi.
Minister Kubuabola & the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director Political Treaties & Trade , Esala Nayasi.