Baron Wawqa Photo: Pacific Islands Forum
Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Baron Waqa has fired shots at critics who have raised concerns about his suitability to lead the region's main economic and political organisation.
Waqa began his term at the beginning of June.
He has since made official visits to the Solomon Islands where he met Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, and to Tonga where he met with Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku to discuss preparations for the 53rd Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku'alofa.
Speaking to regional journalists in his first press conference on Monday, the former Nauru president said "those issues" falgged by his critics "are all irrelevant at this time".
"Listen, that's one side of the story that would be presented. But the main the main issue here is about the Forum and how I will run the forum according to the best practices," he said.
"Getting everyone working together and respecting each other."
'Media is very, very important'
Responding to questions about his relationship with the media and how he intends to work with journalists, Waqa said he viewed the media as "a partner".
"To me media is very, very important," he said.
Former Nauru president Baron Waqa unfazed over his critics
He said the region has a "huge population" and is geographically dispersed.
"So it's important that radio especially, and now even TV...people aren't getting access to those.
"We need to have an understanding that for us it's no good we just didn't make the decisions and we try and put it out and nobody's airing those out for us.
"So we hope that there has to be a level of collaboration as well where important messages and messaging reach reaches out to people."
Lowy Institute's Pacific Islands Program senior fellow Dr Meg Keen said Waqa's controversial past will be his challenge.
"He is no longer the head of the Nauru government, he is now the head of a regional agency so he has to represent the interests of that regional agency and one of that is for transparency and accountability. So, he will have to explain exemplify that.
"With respect to the media, he presumably is going to need to make himself available so that the communications and the messages of the PIF are clear and cohesive across the region and to the development partners, which of course, is key.
"I think that is the expectation and I think that's what one has to judge him on as the head of the Pacific Island Forum."