Strong MSG not a threat to Pacific Leaders Forum-McCully

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, said a strong Melanesian Spearhead Group does not pose a particular threat to the role of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand McCully said there will occasionally be assertions made about the respective roles of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia, and it's not a debate New Zealand needs to be involved in.

He said the discussions he has had with MSG personnel, they have tended to go to some lengths to emphasize the fact that an active sub regional grouping in Melanesia should in no way threaten the Pacific Forum as a wider regional grouping.

However, political analysts are reported to have said that the successful hosting of the MSG which was Chaired by Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was a victory for Fiji and further enforced the solidarity within the member states and support towards Fiji's reform agenda which could pose a threat to the larger grouping of the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum from which Fiji remains suspended.

Commodore Bainimarama told the MSG meeting in Suva last week that his government will direct all assistance possible to ensure greater trade and economic cohesion between the MSG countries.


Story by: Roneel Lal