Leaders meet in Fiji for MSG meeting

Foreign Ministers from Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member countries are in Fiji for talks, ahead of Thursday's leaders' summit.

The Fiji Sun says ministers from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are in the capital, Suva, along with the Foreign Minister of East Timor.

East Timor and Indonesia will be observing Tuesay's meeting.

Indonesia's inclusion has been controversial, with former MSG chair, Edward Natapei, saying the move would be unhelpful to Indonesia's West Papuan community.

The Australia-based West Papua Association has argued that as Indonesia has observer status, the West Papuans should also get a seat at the table.

But Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, has rejected that criticism and says the MSG remains committed to the rights of West Papuans.

Source: http://abcasiapacificnews.com

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