The Fiji government is now trying to confirm the number of Pacific Island leaders who are expected to attend the planned Melanesian Spearhead Group Plus Summit next week.
This follows the confirmation from Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama that Fiji is moving ahead to organize the Melanesian Spearhead Group Plus meeting next week.
Despite the announcement by the Chairman of MSG and Vanuatu Prime Minister, Edward Natapei last night that the MSG meeting has been deferred until further notice, Commodore Bainimarama said the meeting will go ahead with the leaders who are expected to attend.
Speaking from Korea earlier today, Commodore Bainimarama said the solidarity amongst the Pacific island countries needs to be maintained.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Doctor Derek Sikua was expected to arrive in Fiji this weekend.
Six non MSG members, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands had also indicated that they would attend next week=s meeting in Natadola.
We are also trying to confirm on whether Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare will attend the meeting as there are moves in PNG by the opposition to move a vote of no-confidence against him in the PNG parliament next week.
While deferring the meeting last night Natapei said this is a collective decision of the leaders of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the FLNKS in New Caledonia and Vanuatu in light of the current impasse within the grouping over the Chairmanship of the MSG.
According to the rotation cycle of hosting of the MSG, Fiji is the next host and Chair of the Leaders Summit.
The deferment came after Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama=s chairmanship of the grouping was questioned last week after intervention from Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare for MSG Leaders to accept Commodore Bainimarama as chair.
Natapei said the potential long term ramifications of allowing Fiji to Chair the MSG this time cannot be ignored.
He said there are basic fundamental principles, values of democracy and good governance that the organization is built on and they must to continue to uphold them.
Commodore Bainimarama said he knows that only the Vanuatu Prime Minister is bringing up the issue about the Chairmanship of the MSG.
He also said Natapei has given up to pressure applied by countries like Australia.
Story by: Vijiay Narayan
MSG chairmanship unresolved
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