The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Lenora Qereqeretabua is representing Fiji at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) in Port Vila, Vanuatu from Thursday 29th to Friday 30th June, 2023.
In her current role, this will be Honourable Qereqeretabua’s first official engagement abroad to meet with the fellow Melanesian Foreign Affairs Ministers and senior officials.
Honourable Qereqeretabua’s presence at the MSG Meetings will be the first for Fiji to be represented by a woman leader and diplomat, and also the first Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Fiji.
The MSG FMM is responsible for the determination of the MSG’s general policies and carries out core functions as directed by the MSG Leader’s Meeting, which is the pre-eminent decision-making body of the MSG.
This would be the first in person meeting for the MSG senior officials since 2020, the last meeting was conducted virtually in 2021.
In attendance will be the MSG Foreign Affairs Ministers from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) of New Caledonia, accompanied by the respective MSG senior government officials.
Honourable Qereqeretabua said she looks forward to the MSG meetings as collaborative platforms to advance Pacific’s cooperation at a time when the region aspires to build back better from the global challenges.
Fiji’s representation at the MSG meetings underscores Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka’s unwavering commitment and support towards regional solidarity and cooperation.
“I am proud to represent Fiji at the MSG to further advance issues of mutual importance and interests to the Pacific region.
“I look forward to the discussions over the two days and I hope my presence at the MSG meetings inspires and empowers the women of Melanesia that we can be at the decision making table on our own merit and ensure any dialogue about our Pacific family, our Melanesia is inclusive,” Honourable Qereqeretabua said.
The work of MSG Secretariat is driven by the overarching vision, “Excelling together towards a progressive and prosperous Melanesia”.
