Leaders of Melanesia were welcomed to the 21st Melanesian Spearhead Group summit in Honiara with the traditional welcome ceremony of ‘chupu’, a presentation of food, fruit, betel‑nut and root‑crops as well as a pig.
PACNEWS says that only two heads of government in the MSG attended the opening of the Leaders’ Summit.
These are Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and summit host, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
Their Papua New Guinea counterpart Peter O’Neill is represented by his Works Minister Ben Micah.
Word in Honiara is that O’Neill will arrive today, in time for the Leaders’ retreat.
Legal challenges in Vanuatu also prevented the country’s new Prime Minister Sato Kilman from joining his MSG counterparts this week.
He is instead being represented by the Director General in the Prime Minister’s Office Johnson Naviti.
Kanaky leader Victor Tutugoro is representing New Caledonia’s FLNKS, the fifth member of the MSG.
In welcoming his fellow Melanesian leaders, Sogavare seemed to rally support for the people of West Papua although he never mentioned them by name, but he did meet the delegation from West Papua after the opening ceremony, shaking hands and having their photos taken together.
He neither made mention of Indonesia as well, which is already an observer member of the MSG.
Discussions today will focus on the applications by Indonesia to be upgraded to “associate member” and by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua to become a full MSG member.
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