Rarotonga, 12 February 2025 - Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Hon. Tingika Elikana, welcomed a courtesy call from UN Resident Coordinator Themba Kalua Monday 10 February as part of the annual bilateral dialogue between the Cook Islands Government and the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator. RC Kalua, based in Samoa, oversees UN partnerships with the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.
Accompanying RC Kalua were Chief of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Solomon Kantha, and Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Martin Wandera.
The discussions, hosted at Minister Elikana’s office, included the presentation of credentials by Mr Kantha and Mr Wandera, who will lead UN engagement with the Cook Islands under the IOM and ILO.
The UN delegation is in Rarotonga to meet with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, which coordinates the Cook Islands’ engagement with various UN agencies, including the IOM and ILO. They will also hold consultations with other national stakeholders to shape the Cook Islands Country Implementation Plan 2025-2027.
These consultations form a key part of the Pacific UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027. Input from Cook Islands stakeholders will help ensure that the Implementation Plan aligns with national priorities, and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During discussions with RC Kalua, and delegates, Minister Elikana remarked, “As the Cook Islands celebrate 60 years of self-governance, we acknowledge our enduring partnership with the United Nations and its various agencies, which have contributed to improving livelihoods and advancing development outcomes for our people. This week’s consultations, involving both government and non-government stakeholders, are crucial in ensuring our cooperation programme for 2025-2027 remains focused on meeting the needs of our communities.”
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