From L to R; Secretary to MSG Chair, Rence Sore, Legal Adviser to the MSG Secretariat, Ilan Kiloe, MSG Secretariat Director-General, Amena Yauvoli, MSG Chair, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Secretary to the Prime Minister, Joesph Waleanisia. Photo: Solomon Islands Government
Melanesian leaders have deferred a decision on whether the United Liberation Movement for West Papua can gain full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
The group's leaders said there was a criteria issue with the West Papuans' application, and the group's secretariat needed to establish guidelines for membership.
They said a decision would now be made when they next meet in September.
The United Liberation Movement, an umbrella organisation of independence groups, currently has observer status within the regional body, but is seeking full membership.
Indonesia, which considers the movement a separatist group with no legitimacy, has associate status within the MSG.
Vanuatu, a key advocate for West Papua, pushed for the movement to gain full membership, supported by Solomon Islands and New Caledonia's FLNKS movement.
But Papua New Guinea and Fiji supported Indonesia's position.
In a statement, Vanuatu's prime minister, Charlot Salwai, said he was disappointed that West Papua was not admitted, vowing that his country would not give up the fight.
He said Vanuatu had offered to host another leaders' meeting to dicuss the application which, if successful, would give West Papua recognised diplomatic standing on a regional forum.