Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko has urged stronger Melanesian unity and economic resilience, unveiling plans for the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby next month.
Tkatchenko told the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Budget Foreign Ministers Meeting in Suva that the summit will launch the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves, a regional network of marine protected areas.
He said Melanesian identity and leadership must drive Pacific security and prosperity, positioning Papua New Guinea at the forefront of “Melanesian Blue diplomacy”.
Tkatchenko also called for collective action on global fuel instabilities through joint procurement and shared reserves, while stressing the urgent implementation of the MSG Security Strategy.
On environmental issues, he urged equitable technical support for large ocean states, particularly in relation to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement.
Tkatchenko expressed condolences to Fiji following the passing of former president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, describing him as “a true son of the Pacific”, whose legacy remains central to regional history.
He commended acting director-general Ilan Kiloe’s leadership and welcomed the extension of his tenure, but pressed for the appointment of a substantive director-general to guide MSG’s long-term agenda.
Tkatchenko also invited the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Front de Liberation National Kanak et Socialiste to harmonise ocean governance through the upcoming summit, reaffirming PNG’s commitment to economic security, environmental stewardship, and regional unity under a shared Melanesian identity.
