3 Jul 2006

Niue expects to host Forum summit next year

8:10 pm on 3 July 2006

Niue's leader, Young Vivian, says the island is likely to host the Pacific Islands Forum summit next year.

The meeting was to have been held on Niue in 2004 but Cyclone Heta in January of that year caused widespread damage, including the destruction of one of the two hotels on the island.

Premier Vivian says most Pacific leaders would be happy for Niue to now stage the event in 2007 and he says a shortage of accommodation can be overcome with some people billeted.

Mr Vivian says he also expects countries would send smaller delegations.

"And I think they will figure their numbers out according to the place that we are in, and I think that in the past small places like Tuvalu and Kiribati and Nauru have hosted it, and in actual fact, I think one country had a boat to help with the accommodation."