Content deleted Content added
Tags: Reverted Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
→History: Removed duplicate word 'digit' to aid readability Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit App section source |
||
| (34 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown) | |||
Line 81:
| today =
| conventional_long_name = Melanesian Spearhead Group
| native_name = Groupe
}}
Line 89:
==Purpose==
Melanesian Spearhead Group was formed with focus to promote economic growth among Melanesian countries. The
# To promote and strengthen inter membership trade, exchange of Melanesian cultures, traditions, values and sovereign equality;
# To foster economic and technical cooperation between the members; and
# To align member
One of the key features of the MSG is the ''Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement'', a sub-regional [[Preferential trading area|preferential trade agreement]] established to foster and accelerate [[economic development]] through trade relations and provide a political framework for regular consultations and review on the status of the Agreement, with a view to ensuring that trade both in terms of [[International trade|exports and imports]] is undertaken in a genuine spirit of Melanesian Solidarity and is done on a [[most favoured nation]] (MFN) basis. Negotiations are held regularly between the members' leaders to consider the progress and developments of the agreement. After a revision in 2005, it covers 180 articles free of fiscal duty.
Line 99:
===Formation===
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) was conceived in 1986 between the three Melanesian Pacific Island Countries namely Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.<ref name="MITT"/> The MSG Trade Agreement was signed in 1993 by Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. At the 6th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Trade and Economic Officials’ Meeting on 16 April 1997 in [[Honiara]], the Fiji delegation indicated its willingness to accede to it. This initiative was endorsed at the 1997 MSG Leaders Summit. Fiji became a formal member of the MSG Trade Agreement on 14 April 1998. The 9th MSG Trade & Economic Officials meeting was held in Papua New Guinea on 29 and 30 November 2000. This meeting saw the acceptance of the expansion of the MSG Product Schedule tariff headings from four
The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat was established in May 2008 after years of operating on an ad-hoc basic. The opening of a permanent office in [[Port Vila]], [[Vanuatu]], signaled a new phase for the MSG group as it ventured into organizing and managing its affairs in a more structured manner.<ref name="MSGSec">{{cite web| title= Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat| url= http://msgsec.info/index.php/about-us| access-date= 19 July 2015| archive-date= 4 July 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150704023943/http://www.msgsec.info/index.php/about-us| url-status= live}}</ref>
Line 108:
In July 2010, Fiji expelled Australia's acting high commissioner accusing the latter of causing the postponement of a so-called ''Engaging Fiji'' meeting.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC|title=Fiji's expulsion of Australia envoy "of grave concern"|date=13 July 2010|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10609711|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819095223/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10609711|url-status=live}}</ref> Australia responded that it had to do with the lack of democracy in the country. An alternate meeting was held instead despite pressure from Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/fiji-expects-strong-turnout-at-talkfest-20100721-10kh6.html|title=Fiji expects strong turnout at talkfest|date=21 July 2010|access-date=21 July 2010|archive-date=24 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724063640/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/fiji-expects-strong-turnout-at-talkfest-20100721-10kh6.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was attended by [[Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea|Prime Minister]] [[Michael Somare]] of [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands|Prime Minister]] [[Derek Sikua]] of the [[Solomon Islands]], [[President of Kiribati|President]] [[Anote Tong]] of [[Kiribati]], [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|Prime Minister]] [[Apisai Ielemia]] of [[Tuvalu]], and [[Prime Minister of Fiji|Prime Minister]] [[Frank Bainimarama]] of [[Fiji]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fiji-claims-egg-on-aussie-faces-as-dictator-pulls-off-pr-coup-with-summit/story-fn59niix-1225895326255| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100903153558/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fiji-claims-egg-on-aussie-faces-as-dictator-pulls-off-pr-coup-with-summit/story-fn59niix-1225895326255| archive-date = 2010-09-03| title = Fiji claims egg on Aussie faces as dictator pulls off PR coup with summit {{!}} The Australian}}</ref>
Melanesian Spearhead Group is also involved in the [[Papua conflict|issue of Papua]], which involves the [[Indonesia|Indonesian]]
Indonesia, however, also applied for MSG membership in 2010, arguing that Indonesia is home to 11 million Melanesians mainly residing in 5 provinces in Eastern Indonesia; [[Papua (province)|Papua]], [[West Papua (province)|West Papua]], [[Maluku (province)|Maluku]], [[North Maluku]] and [[East Nusa Tenggara]].<ref name="Kemlu">{{cite journal |title=Indonesia Acquires Associate Member Status In Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) |date=26 June 2015 |journal=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of
In May 2013, [[Buchtar Tabuni]], the leader of the [[National Committee for West Papua]] (KNPB) supported the notion that if [[West Papua (region)|West Papua]] was granted [[independence]], he would support them joining the MSG.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.papua.us/2013/06/masyarakat-papua-temui-pemerintah-png.html |title=Masyarakat Papua Temui Pemerintah PNG di Sekretariat Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) |newspaper=Papua Untuk Semua |date=3 June 2013 |language=id |access-date=11 June 2013 |archive-date=17 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617162116/http://www.papua.us/2013/06/masyarakat-papua-temui-pemerintah-png.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The WPNCL submitted an unsuccessful application to the MSG in October 2013.<ref name="Andrews">{{cite journal |title=West Papua: Melanesian Spearhead Group has a tough decision to make |author=Sally Andrews |date=3 April 2015 |journal=Lowly Interpreter |url=http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/04/03/west-papua-Melanesian-Spearhead-Group-tough-decision.aspx |access-date=19 July 2015 |archive-date=5 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005203743/http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/04/03/west-papua-Melanesian-Spearhead-Group-tough-decision.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The MSG advised that West Papua independence organizations must first unite for any future applications to be considered.<ref name="Vupost">{{cite news|last1=Ligo|first1=Godwin|title=West Papuans unite under new umbrella group|url=http://dailypost.vu/news/local_news/west-papuans-unite-under-new-umbrella-group/article_ff875941-551a-5730-a394-052caccb6ed3.html|access-date=2 October 2017|work=Vanuatu Daily Post|date=10 December 2014|archive-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804035223/http://dailypost.vu/news/local_news/west-papuans-unite-under-new-umbrella-group/article_ff875941-551a-5730-a394-052caccb6ed3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Line 121:
Despite being denied of full membership, ULMWP secretary-general Octavianus Mote regarded the observer status positively, saying the diplomatic recognition would help them in their cause. "We might not be a full member of the MSG, but a door has opened to us. We will sit across a table from Indonesia as equal," he said.<ref name="ABC2">{{cite news |title=West Papuans given Melanesia bloc access, but not full membership |author=Liam Fox |date=27 June 2015 |work=ABC |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-27/west-papuans-given-melanesia-bloc-access/6577722 |access-date=20 July 2015 |archive-date=3 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803141438/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-27/west-papuans-given-melanesia-bloc-access/6577722 |url-status=live }}</ref>
However, Indonesia's membership of the MSG has giving them a greater influence in Melanesian politics than the ULMWP. In MSG, Indonesia's official representation will be the governors of Indonesia's five Melanesian provinces. Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama, who supported Indonesian membership, argued that his vote was guided by a number of main principles in approaching the West Papuan issue. "Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua cannot be questioned, and the province is an integral part of Indonesia, so when we deal with West Papua and its people, MSG has no choice but to deal with Indonesia, in a positive and constructive manner," he said.<ref name="ABC2"/> Following the decision of elevating Indonesia to associate member, the government of Indonesia, for the first time, hosted the Melanesian Cultural Festival 2015 in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara from 26 to 30 October 2015, which is aimed at improving cooperation among Melanesian countries. The festival was participated by all members of MSG except Vanuatu, and also Timor Leste.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/101211/melanesian-festival-celebrates-cultural-diversity|title=Melanesian Festival Celebrates Cultural Diversity|date=29 October 2015 |access-date=24 December 2015|archive-date=25 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225082805/http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/101211/melanesian-festival-celebrates-cultural-diversity|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Membership ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Overview of Melanesian Spearhead Group members
|-
!scope="col"| Country
!scope="col"| Head of Government
!scope="col"| Status governing
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|East Timor}}
| President [[José Ramos-Horta|Jose Ramos Horta]]|| observer<ref name="Timorrnz" />
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Fiji}}
| {{flag|Fiji}} || Prime Minister [[Frank Bainimarama|Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama]] || sovereign state▼
| Prime Minister [[Sitiveni Rabuka]]|| sovereign state
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Indonesia}}<ref name="Kemlu"/>
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|New Caledonia}}
| FLNKS Head Representative [[Victor Tutugoro]] {{nowrap|{{small|[[File:Pro-Independence Flag of New Caledonia.svg|25px]] [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front]] |-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
| Prime Minister [[James Marape]] || sovereign state |-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Solomon Islands}}
| Prime Minister [[ |-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Vanuatu}}
| Prime Minister [[Charlot Salwai]]|| sovereign state
|-
!scope="row"| {{nowrap|{{small|[[File:Coat of arms of Republic of West Papua.svg|25px]]}}}} West Papua
| ULMWP General Secretary [[ |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"▼
|+Population and demography of members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group
▲{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| Country
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| Population
!scope="col"| Status governing
|-
| colspan="2" align=right| 1,340,513 || observer |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 926,276 || sovereign state |-
| {{Flag|East Nusa Tenggara}} || 5,325,566 ||rowspan="9"| 13,895,201 || rowspan="9"| provinces of associate member
|-
| {{Flag|Maluku}} || align=right| 1,848,923
Line 162 ⟶ 176:
| {{Flag|North Maluku}} ||align=right| 1,282,937
|-
| {{Flag|
|-
| {{Flag|West Papua}} || align=right|
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|New Caledonia}}
| [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front]] || colspan="2" align=right| 271,407 || political party
|-
!scope="row" colspan="2" align=left| {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
| colspan="2" align=right| 8,935,000 || sovereign state
|-
!scope="row" colspan="2" align=left| {{flag|Solomon Islands}}
| colspan="2" align=right| 652,857|| sovereign state
|-
!scope="row" colspan="2" align=left| {{flag|Vanuatu}}
| colspan="2" align=right| 307,815|| sovereign state
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"▼
|+Economic overview of members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group
▲{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| Country
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| GDP 2022 <br><small>(in billion [[US Dollar|$]])</small>
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| GDP PPP 2022 <br><small>(in billion [[US Dollar|$]])</small>
!scope="col"| Status governing
|-
| colspan="2" align=right| 2.455 || colspan="2" align=right| 5.347 || observer |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 4.859 || colspan="2" align=right| 12.685 || sovereign state |-
!scope="row" rowspan="9"| {{Flag|Indonesia}}
| {{Flag|East Nusa Tenggara
|-
| {{Flag|Maluku}} || align=right|3.616 || align=right|11.283
Line 193 ⟶ 222:
| {{Flag|North Maluku}} || align=right|4.775 || align=right|14.900
|-
| {{Flag|Southwest Papua}} ||
|-
| {{Flag|West Papua}} || align=right|6.148 || align=right|19.195
|-
|-
| {{Flag|Central Papua}} || rowspan="3" align="right" |
|-
| {{Flag|Highland Papua}}
|-
| {{Flag|South Papua}}
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|New Caledonia}}
| [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front]] || colspan="2" align=right| 10.071 || colspan="2" align=right| 11.110 || political party
|-
| colspan="2" align=right| 31.362 || colspan="2" align=right| 39.083 || sovereign state |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 1.601 || colspan="2" align=right| 1.671 || sovereign state |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 0.984 || colspan="2" align=right| 0.922 || sovereign state |}
==Meetings==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+MSG Formal Summits
|-
!scope="col"|{{Abbr|No|Number}}
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|Host
!scope="col"|Host leader
|-
!scope="row"| 18th
▲| March 2011 || [[Suva]] || {{flag|Fiji}} ||
|-
!scope="row"| 19th
|-
!scope="row"| 20th
▲| 19th || 13–21 June 2013 || [[Nouméa]] || [[File:Pro-Independence Flag of New Caledonia.svg|25px]] [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front|FLNKS]] || [[Victor Tutugoro]]
|-
!scope="row"| 21st
▲| 20th || 18–26 June 2015 || [[Honiara]] || {{flag|Solomon Islands}} || [[Manasseh Sogavare]]
|-
!scope="row"| 22nd
▲| 21st || 10–15 February 2018 || [[Port Moresby]] || {{flag|Papua New Guinea}} || [[Peter O'Neill]]
| 19–24 August 2023 || [[Port Vila]] || {{flag|Vanuatu}} || [[Ishmael Kalsakau]]
|}
| |||