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The Pacific Islands Forum is expected to reaffirm its opposition to Fiji’s government when the body meets in Vanuatu next week says New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.
AFP reports Key speaking on Television New Zealand said he expected members to retain their stance on Fiji's suspension at next week's meeting.
Fiji was suspended from the 16-country regional bloc last year following announcement by Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to have elections in 2014.
"I think we should remain resolute in our commitment to excluding Fiji from the forum until he (Bainimarama) demonstrates he is going to hold those elections," Key said.
New Zealand and Australia both refused to attend last week's "Engaging the Pacific" meeting organised by Fiji to replace the cancelled Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) summit in Natadola Intercontinental Resort last week.
Bainimarama accused Australia of pressuring nations not to attend the MSG and expelled Australia's acting high commissioner in retaliation.
At the same time, he warned that elections already put back from 2009 to 2014 could be further delayed because of "constant interfering" by New Zealand and Australia.
But Key said there was no reason why the elections should not be held in 2014 and New Zealand was prepared to help financially or in any other way to ensure that happened.
He said New Zealand had been reasonable with its sanctions against Fiji and had tried to reach out and offer assistance.
By Rachna Lal
Source: AFP
