Ms. Lourdes T. Pangelinan
Director General
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
BPD5
98848, Noumea Cedex
New Caledonia

Dear Ms. Pangelinan,

This letter is to request your kind assistance in advancing the idea of the SPC assuming a mandate for regional security.  This is an idea American Samoa presented to SPC during their recent review of SPC's draft corporate plan several months ago.

As you may be aware, security spans all development sectors and can impact either positively or negatively on a community.  For example, a terrorist incident would have a devastating effect on fragile Pacific economies, particularly those that depend heavily on the tourism market.  By the same token, a secure region has much to gain in economic benefits.  Forum Secretariat has a regional security mandate, however, membership is limited and security is most effective when it is seamless.  US Pacific insular areas do not participate in Forum activities thereby leaving a security breach within the region.  Following on the heels of APEC's statement advocating regional security cooperation, I feel it would be most appropriate to address the issue of regional cooperation and a possible role for the SPC.  I feel it is important that our community takes a proactive role in this arena to avoid being identified as a soft target for terrorist activities that currently plague Pacific Rim nations.

I would like to request that we advance this discussion by placing regional security on the CRGA meeting agenda and gage the interest of SPC member nations on this important matter.  If the dialogue should indicate to the positive, I would like to suggest that the idea be explored in further detail and presented at the next SPC heads of government meeting next year.

In closing I would like to wish you and all the SPC member representatives to the CRGA a fruitful meeting.

Sincerely,

[Signed]

Tauese P.F. Sunia
Governor of American Samoa