11 Oct 2010

Melanesian Spearhead Group summit set for next week in Solomon Islands

8:01 pm on 11 October 2010

Solomon Islands is to host the Melanesian Spearhead Group's leaders summit next week.

The meeting was set to take place in July this year in Fiji but was cancelled at the last minute by the organisation's current chairman, Vanuatu Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Edward Natapei.

Mr Natapei said at the time allowing the interim Fiji leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, to become chair threatened the organisation's democratic values.

Mr Natapei had claimed he had the support of the leaders of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in making the decision but they failed to publicly back him.

The Vanuatu Prime Minister's Office has confirmed the members have now agreed to meet in Solomon Islands on the 22nd October.