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Prime Minister Sitiweni Rabuka said the Troika’s terms of reference (TOF) for the mission had been agreed by the French envoy and New Caledonian officials and would be presented at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Retreat.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Rabuka said the TOF had been sent to Paris for approval and would be presented at a retreat in Vava’u, Tonga later today.
Meanwhile, members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) gathered on Tuesday night to discuss and develop a common approach to present to Pacific Islands Forum leaders later this week (expected to be completed at today’s retreat).
Fiji was represented at the meeting by Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
Melanesian Spear Group (MSG) Chairman and Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said the welfare and interests of Melanesians in West Papua and other Papuan provinces in Indonesia have always been of concern.
Mr Salwai said the Secretariat must liaise with relevant Indonesian ministries to ensure that all MSG leaders find an opportunity to meet with the Indonesian President as soon as possible.
He said the meeting agenda revolved around issues to be discussed at the Pacific Islands Forum.
Some issues are unique to MSG only.
He said the unrest in New Caledonia was also a matter of ongoing concern to MSG.
“No other group within the Pacific Islands Forum has devoted as much time, energy and resources to this issue as the MSG,” Mr Salwai said.
“The MSG must continue to play a leading role on this issue because the indigenous peoples affected, the non-self-governing peoples in this non-self-governing territory, are the Kanak people, who are members of the MSG.
He added that the dialogue between MSG leaders and the Indonesian president is a very important project that must be pursued.
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