 |
| Flags of Melanesia Countries (Jubi) |
Jayapura, 28/2 (Jubi/DailuPost) – One of the first tasks
Vanuatu’s new High Commissioner to Fiji, Nikenike Vurobaravu, will have
to deal with is the sensitive issue of West Papua in the Melanesian
Spearhead Group (MSG) level.
He will take up the difficult task of trying to keep Vanuatu’s
economic and political aspirations at the fore in negotiations with the
rest of the MSG member countries, while advocating Vanuatu’s strong
stance on self determination for West Papua.
How he engages with Fiji, Indonesia, PNG and the Solomon Islands on
the issue will test his mettle, his diplomacy and his status as a
seasoned diplomat and politician.
Vurobaravu received his appointment after the Deputy Prime Minister
and the minister in charge over his portfolio, Edward Nipake Natapei,
withdrew Vanuatu’s participation from the MSG’s ministerial fact-finding
mission to Indonesia and West Papua. The government cited concerns that
the fact-finding mission seemed to be more of a trade mission than the
mandate given by MSG leaders as its formal reason.
The leaders summit last year in Noumea agreed on Indonesia’s request
for an MSG ministerial delegation to inspect the situation in Indonesia
first hand and to hear from the people what they want. Part of the
mission was to ascertain whether a certain group claiming to represent
the aspirations of all West Papuans should be admitted into the MSG
either as an observer or full member.
By : wwwtabloidjubi.com