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Selwyn & Wallace: Fiji Meets Pacific Leaders

KiwiFM Audio: Wallace Chapman & Selwyn Manning – Fiji Fronts Up To Pacific Leaders In Auckland

  • KiwiFM Audio: Wallace Chapman and Scoop's Selwyn Manning discuss how Fiji's foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubabola has fronted up to a group of Pacific leaders in Auckland, including the prime ministers of Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu – and the foreign ministers of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

    What is the meeting all about and what will be contained it the Ministerial Contact Group's report to the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit in August.

  • Click here to view a Pacific Scoop backgrounder report on this issue.
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    UPDATE:
    At the conclusion of the meeting, Australia foreign minister Stephen Smith said there was a need to enter into close discussions with Fiji and he agreed members of the MCG ought to visit Fiji to see for themselves.

    "If we don't engage, there is no way of influencing things in the future," Stephen Smith said.

    New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully agreed.

    At the conclusion of the meeting the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat issued a statement, noting: "The MCG received a report on Fiji from the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum. The MCG expressed concern at the political and economic challenges facing Fiji but there was a clear commitment from all Ministers to continue to offer Fiji the Forum's assistance in addressing its challenges. MCG members highlighted the importance of Fiji establishing an inclusive and open political dialogue process in order to advance sustainable progress back to parliamentary democracy."

    Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, provided a presentation to the MCG outlining the Fiji government's views. He also expressed a commitment to maintaining engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum, describing it as an important regional partner for Fiji's return to parliamentary democracy.

    It is expected that members of the MCG will travel to Fiji in time to report back to the Pacific Islands Leaders when they gather at a summit in Port Vila, Vanuatu in August.

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