US SENATOR BLACKBURN PAYS COURTESY VISIT ON PM SOGAVARE

US Mission Charge d’Affairs, Russell Comeau, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele

A United States Government delegation led by Senator Marsha Blackburn made a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara this afternoon.

Senator Blackburn was accompanied by Emily Manning, National Security Advisor, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Maj Mike Jones, Senate Liaison Officer, Marine Senate Liaison Office, with US Mission to Solomon Islands Representatives, Charge d’Affairs, Russell Comeau, and Graham Barker, Political and Economic Chief.

The Prime Minister’s delegation included Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, Secretary to Cabinet James Remobatu, Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Karen Galokale and Deputy Secretary to the Prime Minister Tony Kabasi.

The purpose of Senator Blackburn’s visit is to provide a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee the opportunity to engage senior leaders from Solomon Islands and to facilitate high-level military and foreign policy discussions and the relationship they have to the strategic security challenges in the region.

Senator Marsha Blackburn and Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare after the courtesy visit

The two leaders discussed issues on Solomon Islands-US diplomatic relations which was formalized on the 9^th of October 1978. Formal ties between the two countries spans over forty (40) years, with engagements in security, economic sector and people-to-people interactions.

They also discussed the establishment of a US Embassy in the Solomon Islands and noted the progress made with the establishment of the Embassy in Honiara after 29 years, which is in response to SIG’s call for a more meaningful engagement with the US.

Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed the appointment of a Charge de Affairs in Honiara to oversee operations and the bilateral relations in the interim until a substantive Head of Mission is appointed while also acknowledging that a permanent US presence in the Solomon Islands will strengthen relations between the United States and Solomon Islands, and augurs well for the bilateral partnership going forward.

Sogavare also expressed hopes to see an Ambassador installed as the Head of Mission, in order to fully engage with the Solomon Islands Government on all development issues including the Strengthening Competitiveness, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE) Program and hoped the SCALE program and other development programs are extended to other provinces as well.

Other areas discussed include the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Threshold Program, the Draft Partnership Framework for Development Cooperation between SI and US, the Peace Corps Program in Solomon Islands, Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), US Support with COVID-19 Vaccines, Bilateral Economic Relations – US Treaty Agreement and Market access for Kava in US

-GCU Press