Page 5 - IB June 2017

THANK YOU AND GOODBYE: RAMSI

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) concludes on 30 June 2017, having
helped return peace and stability to Solomon Islands over the last 14 years.

As RAMSI prepares to leave, it is thanking all Solomon Islanders for their support, friendship and
hospitality. On behalf of the thousands of police, military, diplomats and advisors that came from
15 Pacific nations to help restore law and order and rebuild the economy and national institutions,
we thank you – the political, traditional, church, civil society and community leaders, as well as
the thousands of government officials and ordinary Solomon Islanders – that have welcomed us,
helped us, and worked alongside us.

Tagio tumas long iufala evriwan.

To the citizens of Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and
Vanuatu, we thank you and your governments for the strong and unwavering investment made by
neighbouring countries in the RAMSI mission and the future of Solomon Islands.

Led and financed by Australia, the RAMSI mission leaves behind a revived and peaceful Hapi
Isles. Solomon Islands is now ‘open for business’ and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is
more than capable of being the sole policing agency.

The Pacific region rallied together in the form of RAMSI to help a friend in need. Beyond July,
that strong friendship will continue in a different form. Australia, for example, will send 44 police
advisers and is finalising a security treaty with Solomon Islands that will fast-track emergency
assistance from Australia if it is ever needed. New Zealand will also support police development.

RAMSI leaves the Hapi Isles confident that Solomon Islands, with the ongoing support of its
regional friends, will continue to build a brighter for itself and future generations. We leave with
optimism and hope in our hearts. This makes saying goodbye and thank you a little easier.