Page 17 - IB APR 2017

Politics
Hilda pushes her world agenda

‘ Up to this point, we’ve

been going to the
United States and to
the United Nations, but
we haven’t engaged as
much with our Pacific
friends and partners.
There are other coun-
tries in the Pacific is-
lands that have been
affected by nuclear
testing programs,
whether it’s the United
States program or Great
The effects of the nuclear testing on the Marshall Islands are still being felt today. Photo: File
work that will help us protect our most to meet obligations under the Nuclear Britain or France. All of
important resource, which is the ocean. Non-Proliferation Treaty. Cases against us have been impacted
“Before we go to the global oceans India, Pakistan and Britain proceeded
conference in June, we need to have a to preliminary submissions, but the ICJ in one way or another
framework in place in-country. We will dismissed the lawsuits last October, ruling and it’s timely for us to
know where we are coming from, what that there was insufficient evidence of a
are the issues we face, and what kind of dispute between the Marshall Islands and get together, to see how
international support we would ask for.” these nuclear-armed nations. we can move forward
The low-lying atoll nation has been ac- With some critics arguing the ICJ hear-
tive in international diplomacy in recent ings were unlikely to succeed, Heine together on this issue.
years. Roving Ambassador Tony de Brum doesn’t regret the previous RMI govern- Recently, on our Nucle-
worked as a central figure in the Higher ment’s decision to launch the cases.
Ambition Coalition during global negotia- “I think it served its purpose to the ex- ar Remembrance Day,
tions that led to the Paris Agreement on tent that it continues to place the issue to we received a heart-
Climate Change. the forefront of the minds of people, inter-
Standing before the UN General As- nationally as well as in the United States,” warming message from
sembly last September, Heine stressed she said. “Unfortunately, the conclusion the (Forum) Secretary
that developed countries must now step was not what we hoped it would be, but
beyond the Paris Agreement: “We need to I think it was important for us to put it General, so I think there
do more to increase ambition on mitiga- out there, because otherwise, who will?” is interest from the PIF
tion, on adaptation and on finance. We She believes that there is a need to to move this forward,
must take every opportunity we can to revive international momentum on disar-
stay below 1.5 degree limit needed for mament. “When you look at discussion on not just talk about it,
our survival.” nuclear disarmament, it has pretty much then leave it in the
Successive Marshall Islands govern- come to a stop,” she said. ‘
ments have also sought to break the “There seems to be no pathway moving background.
international stalemate over the reduction forward. So I think it was important for
of nuclear arsenals. the Marshall Islands to put some pressure - On working with the Pacific Is-
In April 2014, the RMI government filed on, by going to the International Court of lands Forum to advance the nuclear
landmark lawsuits in the International Justice, and to keep the momentum and agenda.
Court of Justice (ICJ), challenging nine the discussion alive.”
nuclear-armed nations for their failure n Continued overleaf

Islands Business, April 2017 17