Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga and Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison [Picture Source: ABC News]

“We could have done more but we will live with that”

This is the statement of the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga after the leader’s retreat last night.

Not revealing much about the final outcome Sopoaga says they will continue to move forward and at the same time work together for small pacific island countries.

It is believed that Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison was isolated in the meeting and when being asked of Morrison’s position in the discussion, Sopoaga indicated there was disagreement by saying they could have done more.

“I think it still contains some references to the Secretary General’s message to accelerate actions against climate change and that’s the way forward and we have to live with that.”

However, Morrison says all Pacific leaders agreed to the communique and to his understanding there was no disagreement.

“Just simply saying that it’s not incumbent on any member state to endorsed that statement and it’s a statement by the small Pacific state, what I can say is that we were completely in agreement of the communique which was agreed by all members of the forum.”

Morrison says Australia will remain committed to the Pacific and its course to fight against climate change.