The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, took center stage representing Fiji at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) convened in Port Vila, Vanuatu on Wednesday, March 27th.

Accompanying her was Fiji’s Roving Ambassador, Mr. William Toganivalu, who participated in the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held on Tuesday, March 26th.

He was joined by Mrs. Rosa Lewanavanua, First Secretary of the Fiji High Commission in Papua New Guinea.

In her address, Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua underscored Fiji’s unwavering commitment to the solidarity of the MSG family, emphasizing the collective potential to address the needs and aspirations of the region’s peoples.

Acknowledging the collaborative effort to finalize the 2024 Work Program and Budget, Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua emphasized its pivotal role in driving the membership and initiatives of the MSG Secretariat.

Furthermore, she urged the MSG member states to assume leadership roles in both regional and international forums, asserting their influence in shaping global agendas.

Reaffirming Fiji’s steadfast support for the MSG, Hon. Qereqeretabua expressed anticipation for its expanding role in fostering a stronger Melanesia and Pacific region.

The Assistant Minister conveyed the MSG family’s consensus on the imperative of working in harmony to fulfill the shared vision laid out by the visionary leaders instrumental in establishing the MSG Secretariat.

At the conclusion of the event, Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua conveyed Fiji’s readiness to assume the role of MSG Chairmanship in August this year, highlighting the collective endeavor towards bolstering a resilient Melanesian community.

Attending the two-day meeting alongside Fiji were delegates from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) of New Caledonia, alongside respective MSG senior government officials.

The MSG FMM, entrusted with determining the organization’s overarching policies, plays a pivotal role in executing the core functions as directed by the MSG Leader’s Meeting, the principal decision-making body of the MSG.

During her official engagements in Vanuatu, Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua held discussions with Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea, and Mr. Leonard Louma, Director General of the MSG.