The Melanesian Spearhead Group has welcomed the request by East Timor and Indonesia to be part of its meeting in March.

The MSG Secretariat said their request has been endorsed at the MSG foreign affairs ministers meeting in Nadi.

It said the ministers endorsed applications for observer ship by Indonesia and East Timor and agreed to seek an 'out of session' decision from the leaders to allow both the countries to attend as observers at the March 2011 leaders summit.

The meeting that was chaired by the Fiji's Foreign Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola also decided that the Melanesian Spearhead Group leader’s summit 2011 will be held at the Vale ni Bose complex in Suva.

The MSG secretariat confirmed leaders would meet on March 31st following a string of preliminary meetings of the trade and economic officials and the senior officials meeting.


Story by: Sneh Chaudhry