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June 20th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Updated
Melanesian countries in the Pacific are pushing ahead with a plan to set up a peacekeeping unit to work with the United Nations around the world.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), comprising leaders of Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia’s indigenous political group, the FLNKS, are meeting in Noumea today and tomorrow.
Retiring MSG chairman, interim Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama, used his outgoing speech to promote the peacekeeping proposal at the opening ceremony last night.
In his speech, Commodore Bainimarama emphasised progress on the creation of the peacekeeping unit and spoke about Fiji’s long experience in international peacekeeping operations.
He said the plan would be to create a unit of Melanesian peacekeepers who could work for UN peacekeeping operations around the world.
Commodore Bainimarama said the MSG now had a stronger and clearer vision and had carved out a bigger presence in the region
He spoke about the MSG free market trade deal and also praised the MSG’s skills management scheme, which involves Melanesian countries allowing skilled people to move freely within MSG countries.
The President of New Caledonia’s National Congress, Gerard Poadja, has said he will not attend two official functions because of Commodore Bainimarama’s presence.
Topics:
government-and-politics,
foreign-affairs,
fiji,
new-caledonia,
pacific
First posted
Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-20/melanesian-spearhead-group/4767360
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