Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, MP was welcomed with a 19th gun salute in front of the Australian Parliament yesterday in Canberra on Monday 14th August 2017.

He was also invited to inspect a guard of honour made by all elements of the Australian Defence Force.

Following ceremonial honours, Hon. Sogavare, MP then proceeded straight to a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, MP in Parliament.

The bilateral meeting with Hon. Turnbull, MP was followed the signing of the Security Treaty by Foreign Minister Hon. Milner Tozaka, MP and his Australian Counterpart Hon. Julie Bishop, MP.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, MP and Prime Minister Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, MP.

The Treaty allows Solomon Islands to request assistance from Australia to assist Solomon Islands in emergency situation of national security including humanitarian involvement in situations of natural disasters.

The Security Treaty is arrangement between the Governments of Solomon Islands and Australia that will enhance cooperation with the two countries Post-RAMSI.

Following the signing ceremony, the Prime Minister then held bilateral talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Julie Bishop who was joined by Australia’s Ministers for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Hon. Steve Ciobo and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells followed by talks with the Leader of Opposition Hon. William Richard Shorten, MP and also with Australia’s Minister of Justice Michael Keenan and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin.

“I am pleased with the bilateral talks with the Prime Minister, Ministers of the Australian Government and the Opposition Leader. Issues of security and economic development were the centre of the successful discussions and the success of these talks is a reflection of the strengthened relationship with Australia.”

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Milner Tozaka together with backbenchers Hon. Ishmael Avui, MP and Hon. Augustine Auga, MP were also invited to the Parliamentary Chambers to witness the Australia’s Prime Minister Hon. Turnbull, MP deliver his statement on RAMSI. Opposition leader Hon. William Richard Shorten, MP made replies to Turnbull’s statement.

 

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