Leaders of MSG member countries will attend a retreat in Vanuatu later this week ahead of the August Pacific Islands Forum summit.
The MSG secretariat said the leaders retreat will include Fiji’s military ruler Frank Bainimarama.
Fiji’s suspension from the Forum and the Fijian administration roadmap toward elections are expected to be key points of discussion.
Dr. Steven Ratuva from Auckland University’s Centre for Pacific Studies said Fiji’s leadership is focusing on moving away from purely political multi-lateral engagement with the region to a more social-political form.
“So it’s going to be both looking at how the MSG can consolidate its dynamics and making sure that Fiji becomes part of it. And secondly and how Fiji can make use of the MSG as a way in which it can claw its way back into the Forum agenda.”
Ratuva said the retreat offers Fiji alternative means of engagement since being left out of recent regional discussion.
“On one hand, the Forum are trying to maneuver Fiji out of any engagement, and on the other hand, Fiji is trying to maneuver itself into re-engagement by going through the MSG. I think a number of things they’ll be talking about will be to do with how the Forum could facilitate Fiji’s re-entry into the Forum agenda and secondly, in terms of strengthening the Forum trade relations.”
