Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has said the best hope for improving the lives of the people of West Papua is to work closely with the Indonesian Government.
This follows the inclusion of Indonesia through its five provincial governors in West Papua to be an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
While speaking at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit in Honiara, Bainimarama said Fiji has been guided by a number of overriding principles in approaching the West Papua issue and the first and foremost of these is that Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua cannot be questioned.
He said the province is an integral part of Indonesia and when they deal with West Papua and its people, the MSG has no choice but to deal with Indonesia and in a positive and constructive manner.
Bainimarama also commended the Indonesian President and his Government for the steps they are taking to improve conditions in West Papua for its Melanesian population.
He said from Fiji’s perspective, the best way to achieve this is to bring Indonesia closer into the workings of the MSG.
Meanwhile, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua has been granted observer status at the MSG.
