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PORT VILA, Vanuatu (The Independent, May 30) – "Can't we chose one of the Vanuatu languages to become our main language?" asked Vanuatu President Kalkot Mataskelekele during his address to open the legislature last Monday.

Mataskelekele said he felt certain aspects of Vanuatu life had not changed sufficiently since Independence.

"Anglophonism'"and "francophonism" continue today as 25 years ago, even though bilingualism had been encouraged, the president noted.

The solution, he said, is to choose one of the more than 100 languages of Vanuatu to become the "main" language.

The president admitted that he had possibly broken diplomatic protocol in addressing the Indonesian president recently on political matters relating to West Papuan independence.

"I expressed my concern that one man should not kill another. West Papuans should not kill Indonesian soldiers and vice versa." The Vanuatu leader said the Indonesian government said it was very concerned...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (SIBC, May 31) – The Solomon Islands Treasury Department confirms that funding is ready, following cabinet approval, to assist the people of Temotu Pele in the country’s Reef Islands who have reportedly been struggling with a severe food shortage since last December .

The Division says payment for food will be made as soon as a request for documents is submitted by the Department of Home Affairs.

A contingency warrant was approved by cabinet last week for SB$500,000 (US$67,900) to assist the people.

[The problem was first reported by SIBC in April, when a man from Otelo village in the Reef Islands called for help, saying 7,000 residents were short of food. Patterson Natei said crops had been poor because of unusually dry weather last year.]

SIBC News understands that the National Disaster Management Office has in the past few days been trying to secure a boat at a reasonable charter rate.

Part of the funds approved by...

PAPEÉTE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, May 31) - The victory in France of the "no" vote in the weekend’s European Union constitutional treaty referendum was an expression of "disapproval" of French President Jacques Chirac, according to French Polynesia’s government.

And instead of highlighting the victory of the "yes" vote in French Polynesia, a communiqué issued Sunday night by French Polynesia Vice President Jacqui Drollet spoke of "the massive abstention" by voters, who showed that "Europe is too far away geographically, but also daily, for (French) Polynesians."

The "no" victory in France, Drollet’s communiqué stated, has created "a political, economic, social and deep identity crisis in France. The political construction of Europe has broken down, but the European Union is not in danger and will continue to function on the basis of the former treaties."

But Tahiti’s government notes that the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) remains...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, May 31) – The Papua New Guinea government has requested support from the United Nations for PNG’s sovereignty over Bougainville as warlord Francis Oda continues to promote his "Republic of Me’ekamu" in the province.

Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu signed a letter seeking a statement from the U.N. making it clear that the organization recognizes the Papua New Guinea as the sole legitimate government of Bougainville, and that the "Republic of Me’ekamui" and "Royal Kingdom of Papala" do not have the international community’s recognition or support.

The letter was delivered to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s office on Friday by PNG’s Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Aisi in New York. The letter dated May 26 thanked the United Nations for their involvement in the Bougainville peace process that has now resulted in the current Bougainville polls reaching the counting stage and an...