Hamish Mcdonald, Tarawa, Kiribati – Pacific nations – including Australia – have given secessionists in Indonesia's West Papua province an important win with a formal statement of concern about bloodshed in the territory.

But the Prime Minister agreed to sign only after winning the inclusion of an acknowledgment of Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua, formerly Irian Jaya.

Mr Howard's action was seen as an attempt to moderate the diplomatic impact of the move, which is likely to be seen in Jakarta as interference in domestic affairs. He was backed by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Ms Helen Clark, and the Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister, Mr John Kaputin.

Within hours of the signing at the Pacific Island Forum meeting in Kiribati, Mr Howard said he would rebuff any approach by secessionist representatives for a meeting because they had no status at the forum.

"I won't be talking to them because it would not be appropriate and it would be contrary to the stance that Australia takes in relation to the sovereignty of Indonesia," he said.

A popular movement for independence has built up in West Papua since the fall of the Soeharto regime in May 1998. The former Dutch colony, which has a Melanesian population, joined Indonesia after a highly controversial act of consultation in 1969.

Last week the Indonesian Government said that flying the "Morning Star" independence flag would no longer be tolerated.

About 30 people were killed in the West Papuan town of Wamena this month when Indonesian police began cutting down the flags. Several Papuans were shot by police and a score of Indonesian settlers were killed in retaliation by angry mobs.

Before the forum meeting, Australia had opposed any appearance by West Papua on the agenda, following the inclusion of several Papuan leaders in Nauru's delegation. The development is likely to be added to the "strikes" against Australia by nationalist elements in Indonesia.

"It's a historic advance for the Free Papua Movement," a Papuan Council delegate, Mr Fransalbert Joku, said. "It helps us exert political and diplomatic pressure on Indonesia to have the issue amicably sorted out, and of course as Papuans we want to see it work out in our favour."

The declaration said the leaders of the 16 countries at the Pacific Island Forum meeting expressed "deep concerns about recent violence and loss of life in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya [West Papua]".

"They called on the Indonesian Government, the sovereign authority, and secessionist groups to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue and consultation. They also urged all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents of Irian Jaya."

The Pacific leaders said they would welcome closer dealings with Jakarta on issues of common concern. Indonesia is an official "dialogue partner" of the forum, although it has no observers at the meeting.

Yesterday Mr Howard said he not had any reaction from Jakarta to the statement and did not expect Indonesia would have "any reasonable grounds for concern".

"The discussion was upon the basis that Indonesia retains sovereignty over West Papua," he said. "This was certainly the view that I put very strongly and that's a view that's been accepted by the other members of the forum."

Mr Joku said the sovereignty reference was included as a diplomatic "comfort" to Indonesia and was to be expected from countries with close ties to Jakarta such as Australia. "It is a statement of fact. It is not an argument in favour of Indonesia or against West Papua becoming independent in future."