Solomon Islands United Party (SIPU) says it will review Solomon Islands’ offices overseas.United Party interim president, Andrew Hanaria made the statement following the commissioning of two Solomon Islands diplomats at Government House.
The two diplomats are Salana Kalu who is Solomon Islands’ first ambassador to Indonesia and Moses Kouni who is the country’s new Ambassador to the European Union.
Mr Kouni has been Solomon Islands Ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Austria, but Honiara has closed his office as a cost cutting measure with all the functions being transferred to Brussels.
Mr Kalu will be based in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city.
But Mr Hanaria said the United Party will review the functions of all the country’s offices abroad as well as the diplomatic relations with the host countries and organizations.
Solomon Islands currently has residing diplomats in Canberra, Australia, Wellington, New Zealand, Suva, Fiji, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Taipei, Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Brussels, European Union, United Nations in New York and Havana in Cuba.
It also has diplomatic relations with countries that have embassies and high commissions in Port Moresby and Canberra.
Meanwhile, Mr Hanaria said a United Party led government will in the review of Solomon Islands overseas missions and their diplomatic personnel opt for strengthened ties with the countries from which the country will receive more tangible benefits.
He said the newly established diplomatic relations with Indonesia will be reviewed taking into consideration its behavior towards the Melanesian people of West Papua.
But Mr Hanaria said trade and investment relations between provincial governments and overseas countries and organizations will be encouraged.
By George Atkin
