Solomon Islands' PM says he spurned U.S. summit 'lecture'

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The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, refused to attend a U.S.-Pacific Islands summit this week as he resents "lecturing" by the U.S., according to Tavuli News, a media outlet based in Solomon Islands, on Wednesday.

Sogavare, who was in New York last week to attend the United Nations General Assembly, did not extend his stay in the United States to attend the summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden.

The prime minister, holding a press conference on Wednesday after arriving back in Solomon Islands from the U.S., told the local media that "it needs now for them to respect Pacific leaders and leaders everywhere."

Sogavare said that he had attended a similar summit last year, but "nothing came out of it." Describing these summits, he added, "They will give you three minutes to talk and then you go and listen to them lecture you about how good they are."

The prime minister said he had "more important" business to deal with at home and has "a heavy legislative agenda in parliament."

"I am not going to sit down there and listen to people who lecture me, no way," he told reporters.

(Cover photo: Headquarters of the United Nations, New York, United States. /CFP)