10 Jul 2006

No comment on Forum post for NZ's Peters

1:12 pm on 10 July 2006

There has been no comment from the New Zealand foreign minister, Winston Peters, about a press report that he is being considered to succeed Greg Urwin as secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Mr Peters is in Germany and his press secretary in New Zealand acknowledged seeing the report in Saturday's edition of the daily newspaper, The Dominion Post.

The paper quotes diplomatic sources as saying Mr Peters has been mentioned as a possibility to take over once Mr Urwin's first term ends in December.

The newspaper says Melanesian countries have privately expressed concern at the level of Australian involvement in their internal affairs.

Mr Urwin is Australian and became the secretary-general three years ago after strong lobbying by Australia.