Melanesian Spearhead Group

MSG foreign ministers discuss membership

MSG senior officials met on Tuesday in Port Vila and, as with yesterday's foreign ministers meeting, the findings of a constitutional committee review of MSG rules on membership are the main agenda item.

This comes as the MSG considers a full membership application by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

The foreign minister of Solomon Islands, Milner Tozaka, said the MSG leaders in July requested legal clarification on guidelines for membership.

Solomon Islands Signs Melanesian Free Trade Agreement

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who signed the agreement, pledged his government’s full support for ratification of the Trade Agreement, as formalities are set down.

The MSG Free Trade Agreement is an expansion of the former agreements and includes trade in services, investment and labour mobility.

Prime Minister Sogavare who is also the MSG Chair, was elated at the new development in the sub-regional trade deal saying the agreement signals a new area for trade within the Melanesian region.

MSG countries explore wider export markets

(FLNKS or Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste, a group of pro-independent parties in the French Territory of New Caledonia is a fifth member.)

Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) was formed in 1986 with a focus on promoting economic growth among Melanesian countries. It is headquartered in Port Vila, Vanuatu. MSG member countries form the bulk of the Pacific Island population are larger in size and richer in natural resources than Polynesian island nations.

ULMWP accepts MSG decision and calls for greater support of West Papua

ULMWP spokesperson, Benny Wenda, said this could be seen as a delay tactic but ULMWP acknowledges the technical issues highlighted by the leaders and senior officials of the MSG.

The MSG special leaders’ summit on July 14, in the Solomon Islands, had agreed to defer the consideration of the application for full membership by ULMWP until membership criteria and guidelines are further developed.

West Papuans welcome decision by MSG

West Papuans have applied under the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMPW), a collaborative group comprised of united resistance organisations located both inside and outside of West Papua.

The MSG leaders said there was a criteria issue with the West Papuans' application, and the group's secretariat needed to establish guidelines for membership.

Despite the decision on whether the ULMPW can gain full membership of the MSG has been differed to September, the West Papuans are pleased that their application is being considered.

MSG Foreign Ministers discuss key issues at Lautoka Fiji meeting

This is the first MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) for this year ahead of the Special Leaders’ Summit scheduled for July this year.

The meeting was held after a number of deferrals due to national priorities and other regional and international commitments for some members of the MSG.

Big omissions from MSG trade deal

RNZI reports negotiations on a new free trade area that spans Melanesia were concluded by the group's trade ministers in Vanuatu last week.

The MSG's Programme Manager of Trade and Investment, Johnny Licht, said the agreement now covers trade in services, labour and investments, instead of being focussed solely on goods.

Full membership for ULMWP amongst agenda for MSG Leaders’ Summit

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, who is the current Chair of the MSG, made the assurance when a delegation of ULMWP leaders met with him in Port Vila yesterday requesting him to favourably consider two issues for addressing by the MSG.

Fijian diplomat Amena Yauvoli is the new Director General for MSG

This was revealed by Fiji's foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola Thursday when he met with EU heads of mission in Suva.

The experienced Fijian diplomat was interim Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) before he was appointed as Ambassador for Climate Change and Oceans.

Ambassador Yauvoli previously served as Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

Indonesia not willing to discuss Papua with MSG leader

At a meeting in New Caledonia the FLNKS spokesman, Victor Tutugoro, said the issue of West Papua must be pursued with vigour by the MSG.

The chair of the MSG, Solomons' prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, said the issue of West Papua is dear to the hearts of Solomon Islanders.

He says the significance of this is manifested in the Solomons' appointment of a special envoy on West Papua last year.