The Melanesian Spearhead Group chairman Manasseh Sogavare says his talks in Papua New Guinea were fruitful, with West Papua membership and labour mobility issues covered.

Mr Sogavare, who is also Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister, met with his PNG counterpart Peter O’Neill in the last leg of his consultations with MSG leaders.

It’s his second and final such tour since taking up the chairmanship of the sub-regional grouping in 2015. Regarding West Papua, the Chair confirmed with Mr O’Neill that an application for full MSG membership by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua would be dealt with under revised MSG Membership criteria.

A special MSG committee on Legal and Institutional Issues had made recommendations on membership guidelines to be used in the long-pending decision on the Liberation Movement’s application.