Forum stands by Fiji suspension

Leaders from the Pacific today decided to maintain Fiji's suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum.

According to a ABC report, the leaders have decided Fiji will not be allowed back into the forum, but say the country has made progress towards democracy and they'll permit it to participate in a parallel gathering of Pacific countries.

The leaders finished the forum's retreat on the remote one-foot island in Aitutaki, Cook Islands and called for more reliable aid to the Pacific Island nations.

They have urged aid donors to make their assistance more reliable and more predictable and they've called for more assistance to help them fight illegal fishing in the Pacific.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna said he may raise the matter with the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, when she visits the Cook Islands for the post-forum dialogue tomorrow.

Clinton is on her way to the Cook Islands for post-Forum dialogue with the leaders. She will be joined by the head of US Pacific Command, Admiral Sam Locklear.

Meanwhile, the 2013 Pacific Islands Forum will be held in the Marshall Islands. The venue of the next meeting was agreed by all the leaders earlier today.

FijiLive