Related:

Solomon PM Prioritizes Domestic Issues

Sogavare strongly expressed that he attended a similar meeting last year, and nothing came out of that one. I am not to go and sit down at the meeting and listen to them lecture me. No. You know how it is arranged? It needs now for them to respect Pacific leaders and leaders everywhere. They must change their strategies. How these meetings are arranged, they will give you three minutes to talk and then you go and listen to them lecture you about how good they are.”

Sogavare also touched on the issue of promised aid from the United States, stating, “The US has promised 800 billion but to date, there is nothing to show for it.” He implied that other global leaders had shown more respect for Pacific Island leaders, citing instances where leaders like Albanese, the Korean President, and Xi Jinping had allotted him an hour for dialogue. “They treat us like leaders,” Sogavare added, “Not to put us in a classroom-like setting and lecture us.”

The Prime Minister reiterated that Solomon Islands is adequately represented at the meeting by the Foreign Affairs Minister Jeremiah Manele. Sogavare emphasized that the Foreign Affairs Minister is accorded the same respect as the Prime Minister and is well-equipped to represent the Solomon Islands government at the event. He debunked any claims that Solomon Islands was not adequately represented, stating, “To say that Solomon Islands is not represented at the meeting is wrong.”

Related:

Solomon Islands Leader Says He Skipped Biden Summit to Avoid ‘Lecture’

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sogavare had praised China’s development cooperation as “less restrictive”.