198
The Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat, Leonard Louma, met with the President of the Government of New Caledonia, His Excellency Louis Mapou, at the Office of the President in Noumea yesterday.
The meeting discussed ways and means in which New Caledonia can be better integrated into the MSG and the Pacific Region as a whole.
Both DG Louma and President Mapou agreed that there was a real need and potential to engage New Caledonia in framing cooperative measures in the areas of trade, education and human resource development, health, sports, culture, fisheries, technology transfer, security, humanitarian assistance, and people-to-people interactions.
DG Louma said that New Caledonia’s greater participation in the activities of the MSG, Pacific Islands Forum and other regional organisations would greatly benefit the region.
“We had a very frank and insightful discussion on the proposition for New Caledonia to be a Member of the MSG. I emphasised that the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) is a member of the MSG and its views on this matter will be crucial,” said DG Louma.
Another issue that was canvassed was in relation to the Trade Agreement between New Caledonia and Vanuatu and both expressed hope that outstanding issues can be resolved so that this mutually beneficial Trade Agreement can be concluded as soon as possible.
President Mapou indicated to the Director General that New Caledonia will be participating at the upcoming 7th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFEST) in Port Vila in July this year.
DG Louma and President Mapou also exchanged views on the latest developments concerning AUKUS, a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, noting its implications to the spirit of the Rarotonga Treaty, and maintained that the MSG region should remain a Nuclear-Free Zone.
DG Louma assured President Mapou of the MSG Secretariat’s continuous support towards FLNKS’ political, social and economic ambitions and through that medium, facilitate the integration of New Caledonia into MSG.
Caption: DG Louma with the President of the Government of New Caledonia, His Excellency Louis Mapou.
