Melanesian Spearhead Group

Leaders from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji, and French territory New Caledonia, began discussions on issues common to Melanesia.

After a welcome ceremony held at the Vanuatu Convention Centre and a resounding welcome by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, the 22nd MSG continued at Warwick Le Lagon Hotel, opening with a plenary session. Each leader made their statements.

Papua New Guinea was chair for three years.

Marape was in Suva, Fiji attending the 51^st Pacific Islands Forum. 

At the ceremony, Marape said, “For your trust and confidence in Papua New Guinea’s Chairmanship, it was not easy. The incoming Chairman, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Bob Loughman thanked Papua New Guinea for holding the Chairmanship for the past several years which were tough and committed to implementing the Objectives of the MSG. 

A meeting was held at the Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila where the MSG secretariat is also located.

A new multi-lateral approach is being heralded by the MSG secretariat, representing the group's five full members Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, PNG and New Caledonia's Kanaks.

MSG Secretariat acting director general George Hoa'au met with Chinese officials and said China is willing to be part of the development aspirations of the MSG.

Solomon Islands last year cut long-running diplomatic ties with Taiwan to switch to China.

Mr Yauvoli told the Fiji Times human rights issues relating to West Papua should be dealt with by international organisations.

Speaking during a working group meeting in Nadi on Thursday, he said the MSG's common enemy is crime and politics should be set aside.

Earlier this week Vanuatu Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the MSG was failing because of a lack of political engagement.

Minister Emil Tammur, accompanied by the Acting Executive Director of National Cultural Commission John Uani, acting director of the National Museum and Arts Gallery Alois Kuaso and officials from the Ministry arrived on Monday.

Tammur will be chairing the meeting today (June 28) at the Heritage Hotel where enhancement of Melanesian arts, culture, education and music and other related issues will be discussed.

Other ministers from the Melanesian Island states, including Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands will be in attendance as well.

The warning was delivered by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry's Director General of Asia-Pacific and African Affairs, Desra Percaya, at this week's MSG leaders summit.

The summit was hosted by Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill in Port Moresby.

It was attended by leaders and officials from the other four full MSG members: Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanaks Movement.

Indonesia, which is an associate member, was represented by Mr Percaya who endorsed the MSG's plan on regional co-operation and common prosperity.

PNG's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is hosting leaders from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji as well as a representative of New Caledonia's indigenous Kanak people.

A long-pending application for Spearhead membership by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, which has observer status in the group, is to be processed under new guidelines for membership.

It's unclear whether this means the decision is a technical or political one.

Today, activists of the Free West Papua campaign in Papua New Guinea called on O’Neill to set a record as the first PNG Prime Minister to officially address the West Papua issue and grant them that full membership.

“We thank Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for inviting the leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Benny Wenda, to the MSG meeting, and granting him access into the country,” said Philip Kepan, General Secretary of the PNG Coalition of NGOs.

“However, we are disappointed that this significant meeting was not given enough publicity.

However, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua is adamant on being granted full membership, hence campaigns to mobilise support has got all eyes on the PNG Government during the week-long (Feb 10-15) 21^st Melanesian Summit in Port Moresby.

West Papua is seeking full membership in the MSG forum as a strategy to a peaceful resolution of the conflict it now faces with the Indonesian Government.

In a joint statement by spokesman Jacob Rumbiak and chairman Benny Wenda, the group is here to seek full MSG membership for West Papua.

Papua New Guinea's capital will host the summit from 10-15 February when PNG is to assume the MSG chairmanship from Solomon Islands.

The group also includes Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanaks Movement.

According to the secretariat, PNG's focus for discussions at the summit is on sustainable development goals outlined in the MSG 2038 Prosperity for All Plan.

It's been two-and-a-half years since the last full MSG leaders summit in Honiara, with a number of leaders' meeting deferred.