As the Pacific Forum Ministerial Contact Group gets ready for its meetings today, group Chair and NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully said they are looking forward to a constructive day not only for today but also for the days ahead.
The Contact Group was officially welcomed to Fiji by the Government at Borron House last night.
Foreign Minister Inoke Kubuabola said since Fiji’s suspension from the Forum in 2009, Fiji has become a strong independent nation and a good global citizen.
The Group also includes Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, Papua New Guinea Minister for Foreign Affairs Ano Pala, Samoan Minister of Justice Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Tuvalu’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Apisai Ielemia and Vanuatu Foreign Minister Alfred Carlot.
They meet Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at 8.30 this morning.
The group then meets officials at the Strategic Framework for Change Office at parliament house, Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, and senior officials of the Reserve Bank, FNPF and ANZ.
The group will have a combined meeting with Laisenia Qarase, Mahendra Chaudhry and Mick Beddoes at lunch time today.
They will then meet the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Colonel Pio Tikoduadua and Provincial Development Permanent Secretary Colonel Inia Seruiratu.
The group will have separate meetings with Chief Justice Anthony Gates and Permanent Secretary for Justice Mere Vuniwaqa.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & William Waqavakatoga
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We are here to have constructive talks - McCully
