31 May 2008

Commodore Bainimarama calls for regional countries to constructively engage with Fiji

11:54 am on 31 May 2008

The interim Fiji Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has called on the international community to constructively engage with his administration.

He has told fellow Melanesian leaders at the MSG summit in Port Vila that the international community listens only to those aiming to bring down the military regime.

The Commodore says the bellicose rhetoric of Fiji's neighbours might inflate political egos but it may have worsened the country's deep-rooted problems of political instability, bad governance, and economic and social decline.

He says Fiji needs the Pacific family to work with it to address these fundamental problems.

He says allegations that the actions of the interim government are marginalising indigenous Fijians are wrong.

Rather his Government is seeking to modernize and strengthen institutions to ensure that indigenous Fijians are better and more effectively served.

Commodore Bainimarama says his aim is to build a better Fiji through the Peoples Charter process and for Fiji to then go to an election under a fairer and more representative electoral system, as soon as practicable in 2009.