Fiji’s MSG status on ice: Kubuabola

Fiji has temporarily suspended itself from all formal meetings of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has announced.

“I affirm Fiji’s position that it will temporarily stand aside from participating in MSG formal meetings,” Kubuabola told local newspaper the Fiji Sun, as part of regular updates through the paper.

“This is to allow MSG leaders the necessary breathing space and autonomy to resolve the outstanding issue of the chairmanship of the MSG due to the deferred MSG Leaders Summit before its formal re-engagement in MSG forums,” he said.

Fiji was to host a MSG leaders’ summit in Natadola in July, where it would have replaced Vanuatu as chair.
That meeting was later cancelled by Vanuatu which said that issues arising out of Fiji chairing the group needed to be resolved.

“There is a tacit understanding among the MSG Leaders that this issue will need to be resolved in the spirit of the Melanesian tradition of mutual compromise and respect for each other’s sovereignty, before the MSG countries (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and FLNKS of New Caledonia) continue with business as usual,” Kubuabola said.

He reiterated that the MSG countries have come out stronger, not only as a prominent and influential sub-regional group in the Pacific Region, but more importantly as individual nations.

He said that in respecting this decision, Fiji will temporarily opt out of MSG sub-committee meetings, MSG officials meetings and other formal MSG meetings.

“Without the general oversight of the MSG leaders, these meetings will not be able to make much progress in advancing MSG issues, therefore it was essential that the issue of chairmanship is resolved to the mutual satisfaction of all MSG members,” he added.

Kubuabola did clarify however that Fiji will participate in the Melanesian Arts Festival in New Caledonia, this month.

Source: Fiji Sun

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