MSG leaders to push Fiji issue

As the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum officially kicks off in Cairns later this morning, there are clear indications that attempts by Australia and New Zealand to put the Fiji issue aside for now may be frustrated after the summit last month of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The MSG leaders in the forum are Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Doctor Derek Sikua.

They have a report on Fiji's roadmap to democracy and the steps to be taken by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama which include a change in Fiji's constitution in 2013 and elections under a new electoral system by 2014.

Both Australia and NZ had highlighted that the Cairns forum will focus on the global recession and climate change, and that Fiji will not top the agenda.

But reports are emerging from Cairns that Fiji will again be one of the main issues on the agenda.

In a communique at the end of the MSG summit, PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu called on the Pacific Forum to maintain an open and constructive dialogue with Fiji.

Solomon Islands Foreign Minister William Haomae has also written to governments across the Pacific supporting Fiji's complaints that any talk of a new trade deal is in breach of the existing arrangements.

It follows a declaration by Pacific countries, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu, last month that said the exclusion of Fiji would render agreements null and void.

With just hours remaining for the forum to start, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has said in Australia that he thinks Commodore Bainimarama has made up his mind and elections will be held in 5 years.

Somare said Bainimarama has said how he wants to run his place and he said that was the clear message in the Melanesian Spearhead Group summit.

The PNG prime minister said it may be hard for Australia and New Zealand to accept it, but this is the stand taken and there is nothing much that can be done about it.

However, NZ Prime Minister John Key is maintaining that Fiji will not be the main focus in Cairns.