Rimbink Pato

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, says PNG will immensely benefit from the meetings he and his delegation attended.

 In a media conference today, Pato expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the Pacific Day Seminar on September 14, and the 3^rd Our Oceans Conference in Washington DC, from September 15^th – 16^th .

Attended by over 163 countries, Pato says PNG will benefit immensely, with strong commitments from member countries to protect the ocean through technological innovation, ocean conservation and sustainable use.

The instruments of ratification were deposited by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA on Wednesday, September 21.

The deposit of the instruments of ratification formalizes the application of the Paris Agreement in PNG.

This means the acceptance or approval accounting in total for 1.08 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions.

And this enables PNG to secure assistance from development partners and international organizations to combat the effects of climate change.

The test had strained the nerves of neighboring countries and caused a 5.0-magnitude quake, with an epicenter at zero kilometer depth, in Punggye-ri, northeastern Korean Peninsula, a place believed to be Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK’s) nuclear test site.

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Government of Papua New Guinea at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Rimbink Pato joins the rest of the international community and condemned the action by DPRK.

Pato informed the Conference that the Leaders of the Pacific made great contribution in helping to bring the world together in París to address the most important challenge of their times.

He said: “now, we need your support to address the challenges facing our islands. We are industrious people. We are fishing nations and islands. Our tuna stock feed Europe and the United States with more than 40 % of world tuna supply coming from the Waters of the Pacific Island Countries”.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato told the leaders at the 3rd Our Oceans Conference in Washington DC, USA.

Pato told the leaders that Kimbe Bay was also one of the first climate-resilient Marine Protected Area in the country.

He added that Papua New Guinea is also part of the Coral Triangle Initiative which in addition to conserving the life-giving reefs also enhances fisheries and Food Security.

“We are small Islands but we are the stewards of most of the planet and with your help and goodwill we will overcome,” Pato said.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill when commending the Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato’s on a job well done to market PNG in overseas missions said those illegal immigrants started entering the country before his government took office.

He said because of the systems and bureaucracy being compromised by our previous governments has resulted in the influx of the illegal immigrants.

He said this is not a sort of migration his government wants for the people of this nation.

“We have focus on big investments that will create jobs and wealth for our people.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato in his ministerial statement to Parliament today said the government will do its utmost to ensure that PIF’s agenda for development is actively progressed.

“In line with our government’s commitment to regional co-operation, we have made sure that our assessed contributions to the PIF, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and other regional organization are all paid so that these organisations can work together effectively,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato when giving his ministerial statement in Parliament today on the progress and challenges in the past years in growing important nations for the country said the past has been an exceptionally busy and productive period for growing vital connections with other countries.

“While we have been busy growing our country’s international connections, we have not for a moment taken our eyes off the vital duty of safeguarding PNG’s core national interest,” says Pato.

“But relationships do not grow on their own.

The grant, five hundred million Japanese Yen, is also for the provision of buses that will assist with transport logistics during the APEC 2018 meeting.

The Exchange of Notes for implementing the Social Development Program was signed today between Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato and Japan’s Ambassador to PNG His Excellency Morio Matsumoto.

The provision of buses and education materials through this non-project grant aid program is in line with the development plans of the Government.

PNG's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato this month said more than half of the over 900 asylum seekers at the centre have had their claims for refugee status determined.

472 have been determined to be refugees and, Mr Pato said, were "free to depart from the processing centre and commence settling in PNG".