Papua’s MSG inclusion talks ‘fruitful’

WEST PAPUA – The Melanesian Spearhead Group chairman Manasseh Sogavare says his talks in Papua New Guinea were fruitful, with West Papua membership and labour mobility issues covered.

Sogavare, who is also Solomon Islands’ prime minister, met with his PNG counterpart Peter O’Neill in the last leg of his consultations with MSG leaders.

Sogavare has confirmed with O’Neill that an application for full MSG membership by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua would be dealt with under revised MSG Membership criteria.

A special MSG committee on Legal and Institutional Issues had made recommendations on membership guidelines to be used in the long-pending decision on the Liberation Movement’s application.

But Sogavare had not confirmed when MSG leaders are expected to convene a summit to deliberate on this, suggesting more delays in the process.

On the issue of labour mobility, Sogavare said Prime Minister O’Neill has expressed desire to see this opened up so that Melanesians from other Melanesian countries do not have to apply for work permit to work in PNG and vice versa. - RNZI