The President of Nauru has used his speech marking the nation's 43rd anniversary of independence to call on MPs to shun the politics of divisiveness and to work together to build consensus on national issues.
For more than five months last year Nauru's parliament couldn't function because of a even split in the number of MPs.
President Marcus Stephen says this stalemate seriously disrupted the growth process on all fronts.
He says Nauru needs a form of politics that will propel the country forward.
Mr Stephen says this means that the foremost responsibility of elected representatives is to establish and promote a stable political environment.
