Pacific Islands Forum - GS questions based on daily current affairs

1)   The Biketawa Declaration is related to -

a. East Asia Summit
b. ASEAN
c. APEC
d. Pacific Islands Forum
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Pacific Islands Forum

Explanation:
- The Biketawa Declaration is a declaration agreed to by all the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum constituting a framework for coordinating response to regional crises.
- The declaration was agreed to at the 31st Summit of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, held at Kiribati in October 2000 in the regional context of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and ethnic tensions in the Solomon Islands.
- The Biketawa Declaration has led to military and police forces as well as civilian personnel of Forum states, chiefly Australia and New Zealand, participating in regional peacekeeping and stabilization operations in Solomon Islands , Nauru and Tonga.
- The Biketawa Declaration takes its name from the Kiribati islet of Biketawa.


2)   Which of the following is/are correct about Pacific Islands Forum?

1. Australia is not a member of Pacific Islands Forum.
2. Its Secretariat is based in Suva, Fiji.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- The Pacific Islands Forum is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean.
- It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum.
- In 1999, the name was changed; Pacific Islands Forum is more inclusive of the Forum's Oceania-spanning membership of both north and south Pacific island countries, including Australia.
- It is an official observer at the United Nations.