3 Jul 2014

Vanuatu wants West Papua at UN level

7:14 am on 3 July 2014

The Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman says the government is still looking at pushing the West Papua issue at the United Nations level.

His comment comes as the Melanesian Spearhead Group resolved to seek a more proactive approach alongside Indonesia to help address the development needs of West Papuans.

MSG leaders have brushed off a formal MSG membership application by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, telling the group to reapply as a more inclusive, united bid.

Meanwhile, Mr Natuman says the Vanuatu government is considering seeking an International Court of Justice opinion on the legality of the UN-sanctioned process under which the former Dutch New Guinea was ceded to Indonesia.

"That process is still open to us. Right now we have to deal with the issue as it is. We talk with the Indonesians and have dialogue with the Indonesians and dialogue with all the Melanesians of various inclinations, political inclinations, in Papua and West Papua."

The Vanuatu Prime Minister, Joe Natuman.