25 Jul 2008

Fiji calls off regional meeting after objections from New Zealand and Australia

10:24 am on 25 July 2008

Fiji's interim Government called off a regional meeting in Nadi yesterday after some delegates protested against the presence of interim Defence Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau.

Australia and New Zealand opposed Ratu Epeli as chairman of one of the discussions at the Pacific Regional Disaster Risk Management Meeting.

Ratu Epeli said when he was informed of the protest prior to the discussion, he opted out of the meeting.

Dr Langi Kavaliku sat in to chair the meeting before Fiji called it off.

Last night, Ratu Epeli said the meeting would reconvene today after talks with the organiser, the Pacific Islands Applied Geo-Science Commission.