The Minister for Defence and National Security, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, has refuted Solomon’s Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s statement against Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Mr Sogavare said that Mr Bainimarama “should apologise to the member countries of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) for admitting Indonesia as an associate member”.

But Ratu Inoke said: “I don’t understand what Sogavare is talking about. He must be suffering from memory loss.”

Ratu Inoke said it was during Mr Sogavare’s term as MSG chair that Indonesia was admitted as Associate Member and all members agreed.

“It was Sogavare as MSG chair who admitted Indonesia as associate member. And it was agreed to by all members.”

Speaking at Solomon’s Parliament on Monday, Mr Sogavare said there was no consensus in the admission of Indonesia by member countries.

He said the Fijian PM solely made the decision to admit Indonesia into MSG and forced the member countries to endorse it.

Edited by Percy Kean

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