New Zealand military platoon departs from Solomon Islands

The New Zealand government Thursday confirmed that the last platoon of New Zealand troops has left the international peacekeeping mission in the Solomon Islands. Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) had been "a great example of a Pacific solution to a Pacific problem." "At the request of the Solomon Islands government, Pacific Island countries helped a friend in serious trouble," McCully said in a statement. "As well as stopping conflict in the Solomon Islands, RAMSI helped restore unity, rebuild institutionsand strengthen the nation's economy," he said. "RAMSI's presence has also provided space for developent work, allowing the Solomon Islands and New Zealand to focus on economic growth and education." Defense Minister Jonathan Coleman said some New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) troops and New Zealand police would remain in the Solomons through to next year. "Although this may be the last New Zealan platoon deployed to RAMSI, we will continue to have NZDF personnel in the mission's headquarters until the military component withdraws. This will likely occur in the middle of 2013, pending final agreement by the Australian and New Zealand governments," Coleman said in the statement. "The mission will then focus on building the capacity of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and New Zealand police will remain with RAMSI to support this effort. RAMSI is not finishing or exiting and will remain a regional mission, but its mandate will be smaller." Development support to the Solomon Islands would also continue, McCully said. "RAMSI's transition can only happen because security has been restored. It is time for the mission to step back to enable the Solomon Islands to take the lead in shaping its future," he said. "New Zealand will continue to support the Solomon Islands to ensure progress made since RAMSI began in 2003 is sustained, and the mission's legacy is protected." The last contingent of 34 NZDF troops, which left for the Solomons in July, was the 16th NZDF rotation of personnel serving with RAMSI. The contingent worked alongside the RSIPF, the Participating Police Force and Australian, Tongan and Papua New Guinean military personnel to maintain security and stability. New Zealand began a drawdown after the Solomon Islands elected a new government in November last year. New Zealand agreed to commit troops to the RAMSI when the Pacific Island Forum governments established the mission to restore order after a period of civil unrest and violence in 2003. New Zealand originally contributed 50 troops to the mission.