Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Civil society groups included in Tonga’s Forum delegation

Posted at 23:55 on 14 October, 2007 UTC

The Civil Society Forum of Tonga has been included as part of the Tongan official delegation to the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum.

The Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, confirmed their inclusion for the first time and the importance of NGO’s in his opening address to the Regional Civil Society Forum.

Dr Sevele said acknowledged the input of NGO’s and said the Tongan government had encouraged the diverting of some donor funding into the various activities of civil societies.