By Carmela Calling
The 23rd Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit wrapped up on Tuesday, June 24, with the Middle East conflict serving as the main focus of discussions.
Friends to all, enemies to none
Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape said that MSG and Pacific leaders “took note” of the situation between Israel and Iran, Radio New Zealand reported.
“The war between two countries is based on high technology and using missiles sent from great distances. But in the context of MSG, we always want peace. And the Pacific remains friends to all, enemies to none,” he emphasised.
Marape also shared that while some stranded Pacific Islanders will get assistance from New Zealand to return home, Australia has stepped in to help MSG.
Just last week, PNG Minister of Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko confirmed that a group of PNG nationals was to be evacuated through Jordan with assistance from the Australian government.
“There were six diplomats in lockdown at the PNG embassy in Jerusalem awaiting extraction,” he said.
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Australia calls for dialogue
The government of Australia said on Monday, June 23 that it backs the US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities but wants to avert a spiral into a “full-scale war” in the Middle East.
“The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, and we support action to prevent that. That is what this is,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference.
“We don’t want escalation and a full-scale war. We continue to call for dialogue and for diplomacy.”
The MSG Leaders’ Summit, chaired by Fiji this year, brought together officials from all Melanesian states, as well as the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front of New Caledonia.
This was done to strengthen MSG co-operation while reinforcing broader regional partnerships through the Pacific Islands Forum.
Other topics addressed were climate action, trade, regional security and decolonisation efforts.
The event took place from June 18 to June 24.
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