2) PM heads for MSG summit
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1) MSG leaders to discuss membership matters
Leaders of Melanesian Spearhead Group member states are to deliberate on long-pending membership matters this week in Port Moresby.
2:04 pm today
Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama is expected to join other MSG leaders for discussions at the Port Moresby summit. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill, who is taking on the MSG chairmanship, is hosting the leaders in his country's capital.
Leaders of all the other independent Melanesian states are expected to join Mr O'Neill for this week's summit. This includes Fiji's Frank Bainimarama, Rick Hou of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu's Charlot Salwai. New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanaks Movement, is represented by Victor Tutugoro.
They are due on Wednesday to discuss criteria for membership guidelines that leaders asked the secretariat for clarification on in 2016. Their request stemmed from an impasse on whether to accept a bid for full membership in the group by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
The Liberation Movement already has observer status in the group. But sources within the MSG suggest the group is not about to give the West Papuans full membership.
Mr O'Neill was staying quiet on the matter ahead of the summit, yet indicated that matters pending since 2016 within the MSG would be considered.
"The MSG is an important forum for our region with a number of significant issues on the agenda that matter to our people and communities," he said in a statement.
But it's understood that Indonesia, which has associate member status at the group and has lobbied strongly to oppose the Liberation movement's bid, has the support of Fiji and PNG.
However, on the eve of the summit, the Liberation Movement remained outwardly confident that the MSG would gain full membership.
"The time is right to see the Melanesian community welcome their brothers and sisters in West Papua as equals," said Benny Wenda, the Movement's chairman who appealed to activists and solidarity groups in PNG to voice their support to his group at this time.
Mr Wenda also appealed to Melanesian leaders to remember the MSG's founding principles of advocating for the right to self-determination of all Melanesians.
"We call on them now to also acknowledge the political aspirations of the West Papuan people, who have, in vast numbers expressed their will for self-determination and assistance from the international community, via their petition to the United Nations."
In other matters, MSG leaders would be considering the renewed policy, work programme and budget outlook for the coming two years under Mr O'Neill's chairmanship.
According to the MSG secretariat's director-general Amena Yauvoli, leaders would also pore over reports on PNG's 2017 National Elections, an Arms Trade Treaty and another on MSG member states' inshore fisheries.
Following senior officials sessions at the weekend, meetings of MSG foreign ministers today and tomorrow will precede the leaders summit proper on Wednesday.
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2) PM heads for MSG summit
Prime Minister Rick Hou leaves today for Port Moresby for the MSG summit.
Leaves on Monday with 7-member delegation
12 February 2018
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela leaves today for the 21st Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
He is leading a seven-member delegation.
In Port Moresby, Houenipwela is expected to hand-over the MSG chairmanship to his PNG counterpart Peter O’Neill.
This traditional handing over ceremony will be held on Tuesday evening at the Sir John Guise Stadium.
PNG has invited both Indonesia and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua to the summit.
Indonesia is now an associate member of the MSG.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua and Timor-Leste are observers.
O’Neill said his country was looking forward to welcoming MSG leaders at this year’s summit.
“MSG leaders will consider reports and updates since the 2015 Summit and 2016 Special Summit which will first be presented through the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers,” O’Neill said.
“The MSG is an important forum for our region with a number of significant issues on the agenda that matter to our people and communities.
“Papua New Guinea looks forward to welcoming MSG leaders, ministers and delegates again to our country.”
Meanwhile, the senior officials meeting started on Saturday and will continue on Monday.
Officials are meeting ahead of the Leaders’ Summit to finalise issues to go before MSG Leaders for their decision.
MSG Secretariat Director General, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli said the Senior Officials meeting will discuss policies, work programme and budget for the coming two years.
“These policy issues will require the endorsement of Foreign Ministers as well as Leaders. On Sunday senior officials will discuss the 2018 Work Programme and Budget.
“We will be reporting to Leaders on the reform status of the Secretariat as mandated by the Governing Council in December 2016.
“Also a number of reports will be presented to the Leaders.
“These include the report on PNG’s 2017 National Elections, report on Arms Trade Treaty, report on the MSG inshore fisheries and an update on membership guidelines.”
Ambassador Yauvoli said the criteria for Observers and Associate Members and New Membership Guidelines will be tabled directly to the Leaders on Wednesday for their consideration.
“The decision for new membership is solely the prerogative of Leaders and will be discussed on Wednesday.”
The Port Moresby Leaders’ Summit will be the first for Prime Minister Houenipwela, who came to power in November last year.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and his foreign affairs minister, Ralph Regenvanu will be in Port Moresby for the MSG Leaders’ Summit, while the FLNKS delegation will be led by Victor Tutugoro…
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is not attending, and will be represented by his country’s Defence and National Security Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
MSG members are Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the FLNKS of New Caledonia.
By LESLEY SANGA
He is leading a seven-member delegation.
In Port Moresby, Houenipwela is expected to hand-over the MSG chairmanship to his PNG counterpart Peter O’Neill.
This traditional handing over ceremony will be held on Tuesday evening at the Sir John Guise Stadium.
PNG has invited both Indonesia and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua to the summit.
Indonesia is now an associate member of the MSG.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua and Timor-Leste are observers.
O’Neill said his country was looking forward to welcoming MSG leaders at this year’s summit.
“MSG leaders will consider reports and updates since the 2015 Summit and 2016 Special Summit which will first be presented through the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers,” O’Neill said.
“The MSG is an important forum for our region with a number of significant issues on the agenda that matter to our people and communities.
“Papua New Guinea looks forward to welcoming MSG leaders, ministers and delegates again to our country.”
Meanwhile, the senior officials meeting started on Saturday and will continue on Monday.
Officials are meeting ahead of the Leaders’ Summit to finalise issues to go before MSG Leaders for their decision.
MSG Secretariat Director General, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli said the Senior Officials meeting will discuss policies, work programme and budget for the coming two years.
“These policy issues will require the endorsement of Foreign Ministers as well as Leaders. On Sunday senior officials will discuss the 2018 Work Programme and Budget.
“We will be reporting to Leaders on the reform status of the Secretariat as mandated by the Governing Council in December 2016.
“Also a number of reports will be presented to the Leaders.
“These include the report on PNG’s 2017 National Elections, report on Arms Trade Treaty, report on the MSG inshore fisheries and an update on membership guidelines.”
Ambassador Yauvoli said the criteria for Observers and Associate Members and New Membership Guidelines will be tabled directly to the Leaders on Wednesday for their consideration.
“The decision for new membership is solely the prerogative of Leaders and will be discussed on Wednesday.”
The Port Moresby Leaders’ Summit will be the first for Prime Minister Houenipwela, who came to power in November last year.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and his foreign affairs minister, Ralph Regenvanu will be in Port Moresby for the MSG Leaders’ Summit, while the FLNKS delegation will be led by Victor Tutugoro…
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is not attending, and will be represented by his country’s Defence and National Security Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
MSG members are Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the FLNKS of New Caledonia.
By LESLEY SANGA
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