As the Melanesian Spearhead Group Summit chaired by Fiji's Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama continues in Suva, the Australian Opposition has today come out and said that the Australian government should rethink it's policy towards Fiji.
Australia's Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Julie Bishop said Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd should change their current approach.
Bishop said Washington has already announced that it is reviewing it's policy towards Fiji.
She told Radio Australia that Rudd should do the same.
Meanwhile Australian National University’s, Professor Stewart Firth said it makes little sense to ignore Fiji in the trade negotiations like PACER Plus as it is the second largest Pacific economy.
Earlier today Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Summit, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said the Melanesian countries have a greater responsibility to look after the other Pacific island countries because bulk of the population, resources and trade are based in the Melanesian region.
While opening the summit at the Vale Ni Bose complex, Commodore Bainimarama laid down the reality of the situation in the Pacific.
Commodore Bainimarama also said Melanesian solidarity is clearly evident in the summit, and he also acknowledged the observers who have come to Fiji to attend the MSG meeting.
They are Timor Leste, Indonesia and Luxemburg.
He said Luxemburg is one of the founding countries of the European Union and their input in the MSG would be vital.
Commodore Bainimarama said this year's MSG Summit has the theme “Melanesian Solidarity for a Progressive and Strong Pacific”.
He said with this in mind the Melanesian countries should be bold enough to have a vision to continue to progress as a region.
Meanwhile the Solomon Islands government has proposed that MSG leaders lobby the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum and the Commonwealth Heads of Governments to support Fiji in its efforts to hold elections in 2014.
While addressing the MSG Leaders, Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel highlighted that these institutions must now recognize Fiji's sovereign right to decide its own destiny.
Shanel reiterated that the members of the MSG stand with Fiji in these trying times.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman echoed similar sentiments as Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama for the need for solidarity to compliment efforts at the national level in individual member states.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
Aust govt should rethink its policy towards Fiji-Bishop
