The Fiji Interim Government has been issued an ultimatum to nominate an election date by the 1st of May 2009, or face suspension from the Forum.
Our reporter Petrina Zinck who is at Special Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in Port Moresby filed this report.
Toke Talagi stressed that the decision and ultimatum is based on the fundamental principles of the Biketawa Declaration, a regional agreement on constituting a framework for coordinating response to a regional crisis.
However, Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Saiyed-Khiayum said Biketawa Declaration doesn't apply to Fiji.
Leaders Forum Acted Fairly-NZ PM
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key believes that the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum has acted fairly and could have taken a harder line after giving the interim government in Fiji an ultimatum to set an election timetable by May 1st.
Speaking to TVNZ, Key said he thinks that forum sent a strong message to Fiji that it expects to see the country put on a pathway to democratic elections and expects to see that completed by the end of 2009.
Key said in the end the ball is in Bainimarama's court and it’s for him to decide whether he wants to restore democracy or not and from his point of view, at some point enough is enough and they have reached that point.
The NZ PM said if Commodore Bainimarama is not going to comply by 2009, then he is probably never going to comply.
Key said there will be no further discussions if Fiji does not comply as the Forum has made its decision.
Earlier yesterday, Kiribati and Tuvalu had reportedly threatened to pull out of the Forum is Fiji was punished for fear on how the retaliatory action by Fiji would hurt them.
However, after other forum nations pledged to assist, they agreed to the new measures.
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Interim Govt Issued Ultimatum
