ID :
42327
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 16:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/42327
The shortlink copeid
Pacific leaders delay meeting about Fiji
A special Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting to discuss the fate of Fiji's membership has been postponed.
The meeting in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby on Tuesday had been convened to discuss Fiji's membership of the PIF, given Fiji's self-appointed leader Frank Bainimarama's broken promises on a timetable to restore democracy in the nation following his December 2006 coup.
But late on Friday the Australian and PNG governments said the meeting had been postponed.
Bainimarama on Tuesday called for the meeting to be deferred, saying he would not attend because he needed to lead relief work after recent devastating floods in Fiji that killed at least 11 people.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would not be travelling to Port Moresby next week, a spokeswoman said.
"It has been officially postponed," she told AAP.
Bainimarama will attend a rescheduled PIF meeting, PNG's Prime Minister Michael Somare said.
In a move that shocked other PIF countries, Somare on Friday called for the talks to be rescheduled for February 10 so Bainimarama could attend.
In a written statement, Somare said he spoke with Bainimarama on Thursday night and was assured the Fiji leader would personally attend the new meeting.
"We have rescheduled the meeting and I look forward to welcoming him here," Somare said.
"However, I am also under no illusion that the meeting will be an easy one for many of us.
"This will test the resolve of PIF leaders in addressing what is already a very delicate situation in Fiji," he said.
Australia and New Zealand, both vocal critics of Fiji's failure to restore democratic rule, had been angered by the news that Bainimarama would not attend Tuesday's meeting.
One senior diplomat in Port Moresby told AAP that Somare's announcement that the meeting would be deferred had come as a surprise.
"Somare's announcement has been a complete shock for everyone," he said.
"The decision by Somare to postpone is at odds with many of the forum membership," he said.
The meeting in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby on Tuesday had been convened to discuss Fiji's membership of the PIF, given Fiji's self-appointed leader Frank Bainimarama's broken promises on a timetable to restore democracy in the nation following his December 2006 coup.
But late on Friday the Australian and PNG governments said the meeting had been postponed.
Bainimarama on Tuesday called for the meeting to be deferred, saying he would not attend because he needed to lead relief work after recent devastating floods in Fiji that killed at least 11 people.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would not be travelling to Port Moresby next week, a spokeswoman said.
"It has been officially postponed," she told AAP.
Bainimarama will attend a rescheduled PIF meeting, PNG's Prime Minister Michael Somare said.
In a move that shocked other PIF countries, Somare on Friday called for the talks to be rescheduled for February 10 so Bainimarama could attend.
In a written statement, Somare said he spoke with Bainimarama on Thursday night and was assured the Fiji leader would personally attend the new meeting.
"We have rescheduled the meeting and I look forward to welcoming him here," Somare said.
"However, I am also under no illusion that the meeting will be an easy one for many of us.
"This will test the resolve of PIF leaders in addressing what is already a very delicate situation in Fiji," he said.
Australia and New Zealand, both vocal critics of Fiji's failure to restore democratic rule, had been angered by the news that Bainimarama would not attend Tuesday's meeting.
One senior diplomat in Port Moresby told AAP that Somare's announcement that the meeting would be deferred had come as a surprise.
"Somare's announcement has been a complete shock for everyone," he said.
"The decision by Somare to postpone is at odds with many of the forum membership," he said.
