Hon Alfred Ngaro: Engagement with Pacific Political Leaders
It was an honour to be part of a small delegation to Vanuatu to offer support and advice to the Indigenous leaders from the different tribes and Islands. While I was there we were privileged to meet with the President his Excellency Rt Hon Nikenike Vurobaravu and the First Lady. He was a Vanuatuan diplomat and politician who has served as President of Vanuatu since 23 July 2022. We discussed many topics and issues and I was able to share about our visit to President Herzog of Israel last year. He is a true friend of Israel and hopes to visit Israel soon to show his solidarity of support.
We also had the privilege to have time with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu the Hon Jotham Napat who was elected as the Republic of Vanuatu's Prime Minister for the 14th Legislature on 11 February 2025. As we discussed the challenges of the 7.3 earthquake last year it was evident that his previous experiences as the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities was helping to navigate the rebuild.
I shared about the formation of the IEJ and also discussed the bilateral relationship and strategic partnership with Israel that has had significant development over the years with the previous leaders. Israel has provided technical assistance in the provision of clean water (water purification, desalination and recycling) through the Department of Water Resources. Access to clean water is a major problem around Vanuatu and access to such expertise has greatly improved community welfare in Vanuatu. Israel has also provided assistance in providing educational training schemes (scholarships) to Vanuatu citizens especially those who are interested in pursuing further studies in areas of Aquaculture, Information Technology, Farming Technology, Irrigation Technology and Green Farming and Energy techniques.
It was not until 1993 that the country decided to recognise the state of Israel due to Vanuatu’s strong connection with Christianity which has its roots in Israel. The Vanuatu government reiterated its preference for bilateral negotiations between Israel and Palestine over multilateral diplomacy as a means to achieve a peaceful solution to this long-standing issue. Despite recognition of the Palestine Liberation Movement, Vanuatu chose to abstain from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution that upgraded the status of Palestine as a Non-Observer state to the UN and those resolutions that condemn the Israel settlement of the Occupied Palestine Territories. The PM reaffirmed his support for the right of sovereignty for the nation of Israel.
Hon Alfred Ngaro