communique

The communique

Hhe 11th summit of the Melanesian Spearhead Group was held in Fiji from May 7to 11. It was chaired by Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and delegates included Solomon Mamaloni, prime minister of the Solomon Islands; Serge Vohor, prime minister of Vanuatu; John Giheno, acting prime minister of Papua New Guinea; and Rock Wamytan, president of the FLNKS of New Caledonia was present as observer.

In convening the meeting Giheno, representing PNG as the chair of the 10th summit last year, gave a comprehensive report on action taken on the various decisions and initiatives taken by the leaders at the 10th summit.

As host leader, Rabuka stressed the critical importance to the members of the MSG group of maintaining their unity and soli darity in collectively promoting and safeguarding their interests.

After the meeting, the leaders put out a joint communique high lighting the various issues discussed and steps taken towards the betterment of the member countries: • Solomon Islands, PNG and Vanuatu signed an agreement for mally approving the admission of Fiji to the MSG Trade Agreement. This was seen as commitment to increase trade and economic cooperation among members. • Solomon Islands and PNG signed a bilateral agreement on technical co-operation between their countries. • PNG was commended for its initiative in the establishment of a Pacific Islands Regional APEC centre, to be based at Port Moresby, to undertake research and disseminate information on activities and developments in APEC of interest and relevance to MSG and South Pacific Forum Island countries. MSG member countries expressed their governments’ support for the centre. • Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and FLNKS welcomed PNG’s proposal to actively pursue with APEC a LOME Convention-type agreement with MSG and Forum Island countries.

They agreed to give PNG their full backing on this, including pursuing their initiative at the 28th South Pacific Forum in Raratonga, Cook Islands in September. • PNG was commended for the South Pacific Regional Support Arrangements and Regional Extradition Treaty. It was agreed that MSG members would cooperate in pursuing these initiatives in the Forum, and that governments’ should cooperate in dealing with natural disaster prevention, mitigation and rehabilitation. • Leaders discussed trade and economic issues. They adopted the comprehensive report of the Trade and Economic officials meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in April this year and endorsed its recommendations for implementation. • The Forum Finance and Economic Ministers meeting to be held in Caims, Australia, this month was discussed.

Leaders agreed that finance ministers should hold consultations immediately before the meeting with a view to discussing issues

of common interest and coordinating common positions on the same. • Possibility of establishing a regional MSG Business Council or Chamber of Commerce representatives of the private sector and their organisations to meet regularly was considered. • On civil aviation, leaders agreed that this was a priority and needed close consultation and cooperation by MSG governments, civil aviation authorities and commercial carriers. • It was decided that shipping was another high priority area for collective action by MSG member countries. • Leaders agreed that telecommunications authorities and com mercial operators in MSG countries should coordinate efforts on the modernisation of their systems, the standardisation and pool ing of equipment and spare parts purchases, the appropriate regu lation of the sector to encourage higher productivity and greater competition and dealings with foreign strategic partners in the

industry.

• On forestry matters, the leaders noted that all MSG member countries had initiated national codes of conduct on logging. They agreed that MSG members should coordinate their efforts in deal ing with the Asian market as well as with foreign commercial deal ers in MSG countries. • The leaders noted that while some MSG member countries had benefited from mineral development and others were aspiring to benefit from it in a number of areas, there were constraints to the development of mineral resources. • In recognising the scope for regional cooperation, leaders agreed that a regional framework for resource development for MSG members be established to cater for data and personnel exchange; and the development of a suitable legal framework.

Leaders agreed that external support be sought for the estab lishment of this framework. • On development resources, leaders agreed the feasibility of establishing an MSG Investment Bank be given further considera tion. • Leaders discussed technical cooperation and the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival to be held in the Solomon Islands in July next year. • Leaders agreed to collectively assist Solomon Islands in seek ing assistance from the governments of France, Japan, China, UNESCO, and other governments and organisations in hosting the festival. • Leaders noted a paper on women’s development circulated by Fiji and agreed this was an important area of national development needing increased attention.

They agreed that close collaboration by MSG members in regional women’s programmes, such as those operated by the South Pacific Commission, be encouraged. • Leaders agreed that observers not be allowed at MSG meet ings, the only exception being the MSG Trade and Economic Officials meeting, which permitted the Forum Secretariat to sit in as an observer. • Leaders reaffirmed their Kiriwana summit decision that each government set up its own MSG unit in one of its ministries/dep artments and assistance be provided to each current chair by the members if and when there is a need and request to do so. ■