MSG TALKS IN DECEMBER

By Gov't Communication Unit

Solomon Islands will host a special Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in December said the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip.

Mr Philip said the meeting, set for 15th December in Honiara, should see the transfer of the chairmanship from Vanuatu to Fiji in a traditional reconciliation ceremony that is likely to also involve traditional chiefs from both countries.

Mr Philip said his government is honoured to host the event upon request from the current MSG Chair, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Edward Natapei.

Mr Philip, whose National Coalition for Reform and Advancement ((NCRA) government assume power after the July elections said the engagement of Fiji is one of his government policy and the MSG meeting is in line with his views on approaching the Fiji issue.

“My government’s policy is not to isolate Fiji. In dealing with Fiji’s problem, we must also engage Fiji in our discussions”, Mr Philip said

Mr Philip said that while his government do not condone the delay in the return to democratic elections in Fiji, the isolation of the country may do more harm than good in helping Fiji achieve that outcome.

Mr Philip said the MSG as a regional bloc may represents the best forum to engage Fiji on its path of return to democracy and he is keen to see the meeting successful.

Mr Philip said the founding pillars of the MSG builds on the Melanesian countries’ common cultural ties and that the MSG would seek to tap on these unique links to help resolveFiji issues.

“With MSG, we try to accommodate Fiji culturally”, he said. “MSG will find its own ways and methods to address Fiji’s issues with Fiji, not without it.”

Mr Philip said this approach is the Pacific way of doing things, and he only regrets that Australia and New Zealand failed to understand this.

He said MSG’s approach on the Fiji issue is not “rebuffing the principles of the Pacific Islands Forum” but isolation of Fiji needs to be reviewed.

“We do not believe that the isolation of Fiji will solve Fiji’s problem. It is still after all a Pacific island country just like any other”, he said.

Mr Philip said Solomon Islands is honoured to be the host to this particular event which he says will be a historical event.