- Melanesian Spearhead Group
-
Melanesian Spearhead Group
Seat 
Port Vila, VanuatuMembers Leaders - Director 
Riva RavusiroEstablishment - as Melanesian Spearhead Group 1983 Area - Total 238,062 km2
4,706 sq miPopulation - 2010 estimate 8,348,000 - Density 35/km2
90.6/sq miGDP (PPP) 2010 estimate - Total US$ 20.512 billion¹ (2010) - Per capita US$ 2,457 Currency Time zone 1 If considered a single entity The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is an intergovernmental organization, composed of the four Melanesian states of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well as the FLNKS of New Caledonia. It was founded as a political gathering in 1983. On 23 March 2007, members signed the Agreement Establishing the Melanesian Spearhead Group, formalizing the group under international law. It is headquartered in Port Vila, Vanuatu. A secretariat building has been constructed by the People's Republic of China and handed over to the MSG in November 2007.[1] The current MSG Director is Rima Ravusiro of Papua New Guinea.[2]
One of the key features of the MSG is the Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement, a sub-regional preferential trade agreement established to foster and accelerate economic development through trade relations and provide a political framework for regular consultations and review on the status of the Agreement, with a view to ensuring that trade both in terms of exports and imports is undertaken in a genuine spirit of Melanesian Solidarity and is done on a most favoured nation (MFN) basis. Negotiations are held regularly between the members' leaders to consider the progress and developments of the agreement. After a revision in 2005, it covers 180 articles free of fiscal duty.
The MSG Trade Agreement was signed in 1993 by Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. At the 6th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Trade and Economic Officials’ Meeting on 16 April 1997 in Honiara, the Fiji delegation indicated its willingness to accede to it. This initiative was endorsed at the 1997 MSG Leaders Summit. Fiji became a formal member of the MSG Trade Agreement on 14 April 1998. The 9th MSG Trade & Economic Officials meeting was held in Papua New Guinea on 29 and 30 November 2000. This meeting saw the acceptance of the expansion of the MSG Product Schedule tariff headings from four digit to six digits, thereby facilitating MSG trade by removing the ambiguity in product identification at Customs points of entry. The agreement is General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) consistent and has been approved and accorded recognition by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Regional Arrangements to be compatible and meeting the requirements of Article 24 of the GATT/WTO Agreement.
More recently, the Melanesian Spearhead Group got heavily involved in the political discussions following Fiji's suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum in May 2009.[3]
In July 2010, Fiji expelled Australia's acting high commissioner accusing the latter of causing the postponement of a so called Engaging Fiji meeting.[4] Australia responded that it had to do with the lack of democracy in the country. An alternate meeting was held instead despite pressure from Australia and New Zealand.[5] It was attended by Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Derek Sikua of the Solomon Islands, President Anote Tong of Kiribati, Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia of Tuvalu, and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama of Fiji.[6]
See also
- Polynesian Leaders Group, launched in 2011, partly as a response to the MSG
Links
- Agreement Establishing the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
- Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement.
- MSG: trading on political capital and Melanesian solidarity, Pacific Institute of Public Policy, Briefing Paper 02, July 2008.
References
- ^ MSG Secretariat building handed over to govt, Vanuatu DailyPost, 6 November 2007.
- ^ Rima Ravusiro heads the MSG, Radio Australia, 6 June 2008.
- ^ Fiji PM wins backing from MSG leaders, Radio Australia, 11 July 2009.
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10609711
- ^ http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/fiji-expects-strong-turnout-at-talkfest-20100721-10kh6.html
- ^ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fiji-claims-egg-on-aussie-faces-as-dictator-pulls-off-pr-coup-with-summit/story-fn59niix-1225895326255
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and groupsAfrican Union · ANZUS · APEC · Arab League · ASEAN · BRICS · CIS · Commonwealth of Nations · CSTO · European Union · G7 · G8 · G8+5 · G20 · G77 · GCC · IBSA · MSG · Mercosur · N-11 · NATO · Non-Aligned Movement · OAS · OECD · PLG · SAARC · SCO · Union for the Mediterranean · Union of South American Nations · United NationsBodies African Union · Arab League · ASEAN · Association of Caribbean States · Caribbean Community · Central American Integration System · Commonwealth of Independent States · Council of Europe · Economic Cooperation Organization · European Union · Latin American Parliament · Melanesian Spearhead Group · Mercosur · NATO · Organization of American States · Pacific Islands Forum · Polynesian Leaders Group · Shanghai Cooperation Organisation · South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation · Union of South American Nations · Turkic CouncilTopics Categories:- International organizations of Oceania
- Organizations established in 1983
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