22 Jan 2009

PNG's prime minister's office expects a good turn out at Forum meeting in Port Moresby

11:30 am on 22 January 2009

Papua New Guinea's prime minister's office says it expects all leaders will attend next Tuesday's Pacific Islands Forum summit in Port Moresby.

The special meeting in Papua New Guinea is to discuss the situation in Fiji and consider special measures, including its possible suspension from the Forum for failing to organise promised elections.

Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, released a statement yesterday announcing his withdrawal from the summit to deal with the aftermath of the floods that engulfed the country.

That statement said he has written a letter to the chair of the Forum, Toke Talagi, asking for a deferral, as well as to PNG's prime minister, Sir Michael Somare.

But PNG's prime minister's office says it hasn't received that letter and Sir Michael is now seeking clarification from the Commodore.

It says the meeting will go ahead as planned with all Forum leaders.