AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): In a clear display of Melanesian unity leading up to the Pacific Islands Forum, 11 Pacific nations have gathered for the Engaging Fiji meeting in Nadi.
Similar to last year's meeting at Natadola before the PIF meeting in Vanuatu, Fiji has not only garnered support for its aims but leaders have agreed on a united front before attending the wider Pacific meeting in Auckland next week.
Fiji’s status is likely to be a point of discussion for the region’s leaders in Auckland, but it remains suspended from the Forum with its only representatives being the rugby players who will receive the focus of attention when the Rugby World Cup kicks off at the end of the week.
Fiji Village reported today that leaders from Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Marshall Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru signed a communiqué supporting Fiji's goals in the lead up to its promised elections in 2014.
Vijay Narayan reported that the leaders agreed Fiji had a “credible home-grown process for positioning Fiji as a modern nation and to hold parliamentary elections”.
The Fiji Sun reported today that Commodore Bainimarama had reiterated his promises to the members of the Pacific Islands Developing States (PIDS).
"In the lead up to the September 2014 elections for parliamentary representation, my government has and will focus on lifting the living standards of all Fijians, providing the trajectory to sustained economic growth, modernising our laws, removing systemic corruption, improving access of a common and equal citizenry and ensuring that the new constitution will enshrine the values and practice of one person one vote and give effect to true representative governance," the Prime Minister said.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting for leaders today will conclude the event in Fiji.
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Alex Perrottet
