Report of the twenty third (23rd) SPREP Meeting, 4-7 September 2012, Noumea, New Caledonia

The 23rd Annual SPREP Meeting was held at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Conference Centre in Noumea, New Caledonia from 4 to 7 September, 2012. Representatives of the following SPREP countries and territories attended: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States of America and Wallis and Futuna. Observers from a range of regional, international and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also attended. A list of participants is attached as Annex I. The opening ceremony was conducted on the evening of 3 September. Mr Anthony Lecren, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development of New Caledonia attended and welcomed representatives