Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says West Papua is not a new issue, it has been around even before some nations gained independence.
He says this demonstrates the seriousness of the issue and why Solomon Islands want the attention of the forum leaders.
Sogavare says he hopes the leaders will accord West Papua full status in the forum as the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) did.
Sogavare says Solomon Islands would like the forum to discuss resolutions on the following:
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Status
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Fact finding mission to West Papua
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Self determination
He says all dialogue will be done in consultation with the Regional Framework.
Meantime Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir says the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Summit (PIF) is not the place to discuss West Papua.
A West Papua Human Right issue is a key priority agenda currently being discussed at the summit.
Leaders are being asked to make a response on Human Rights issues in West Papua
In an interview with regional journalist, Fachir says it is irrelevant to the main objective and the purpose of the establishment of the PIF.
He says Indonesia is a democratic country and that they have the most detailed provision for human Rights.