Fiji’s Response to Statement Issued by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu dated 19 July 2010

News in brief:

(MONDAY 19TH JULY, 2010 No:1060/MOI) Fiji’s Response to Statement Issued by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu dated 19 July 2010

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation & Civil Aviation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola , said today that the Fiji Government was disappointed with the Press Statement released by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon. Edward Natapei, on the deferment of the 2010 MSG Summit. The Minister was particularly concerned that the Prime Minister’s statement contained what could be deemed as inaccuracies and misrepresentation of facts, surrounding the deferment of the 2010 MSG Summit.

The Fiji Government is unable to reconcile the claim that the Prime Minister of Vanuatu had consulted and obtained support of his fellow MSG Colleagues, prior to deferring the 2010 MSG Summit, when both the Prime Minister of PNG, Sir Michael Somare and the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Dr. Derek Sikua, gave their support in writing for Fiji to Chair the 2010 MSG meetings as hosts, in line with the traditions and practices of the MSG.

After the Vanuatu Prime Minister deferred the MSG through his Press Release of 10 July 2010, the Fiji Government was copied a second letter written by the Prime Minister of PNG, Sir Michael Somare to the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, dated 13th July 2010, disagreeing with and disputing the Prime Minister of Vanuatu’s decision to defer the 2010 MSG Summit and terming his actions as “un-Melanesian”. The Fiji Government has also consulted the Solomon Islands High Commission in Suva, who have categorically stated that Solomon Islands was not a party to the decision taken by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu to defer the 2010 MSG Summit.

Ratu Inoke stated that he found Mr. Natapei’s claims that his actions had the blessings of other MSG Members as baffling, especially, since both the Prime Minister of PNG and the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands have shown their solidarity and support for Fiji by accepting the invitation to the “Engaging with the Pacific” meeting scheduled later this week.

Ratu Inoke said that the Fiji Government was also disappointed with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu who did not have the courtesy to reply to the Fiji Prime Minister’s letter of 8th July 2010, choosing instead to announce the deferment of the 2010 MSG Summit through a Press Release. That Press Release also contained inaccurate claims that the Prime Minister of Vanuatu had the support of his fellow MSG Colleagues.

The Press Release by the Vanuatu Prime Minister also claimed that a Personal Emissary was sent by him to the Prime Minister of Fiji, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Ratu Inoke said the Prime Minister would have welcomed any such visit from Vanuatu and would have taken every opportunity to dialogue with the representative of the Vanuatu Government, however, the Prime Minister of Fiji did not receive any such visits.

The Vanuatu Prime Minister’s claims that he has acted without the influence or the interference by the Australian Government is moot, in light of the fact that the Australian Foreign Minister has admitted to lobbying against the convening of the 2010 MSG meetings in Fiji. Ratu Inoke said instead the Vanuatu Government should thank Fiji for the recent windfall in Australian aid they have received by opposing Fiji . On a serious note, the Minister said that Vanuatu ’s actions for short term gains would have long term implications for the people of Melanesia , leading to possible fragmentation of the MSG Bloc.

The Minister also intimated that since Vanuatu had raised in their initial letter to the Fiji Government, the legality of Fiji chairing the MSG meetings, perhaps it was now time to question whether the MSG Chairmanship still legally remained with Vanuatu, given that the two years timeframe of Vanuatu’s tenure has lapsed on 30th May 2010, going by the strict interpretation of the Agreement Establishing the MSG. The Minister, Ratu Inoke said the future of the MSG was at stake and it was now time for setting aside personal agendas and coming together for the collective good of the Region.

It was with this objective that Fiji was convening the “Engaging with the Pacific” Meetings where the Pacific Leaders would have an opportunity to dialogue, resolve differences and identify solutions for the good of the Region through the “ Pacific Way ”.

ENDS