15 Aug 2008

Fiji considers pulling out of next week's Forum summit

1:38 pm on 15 August 2008

Reports from Fiji say the interim regime may pull out of next week's Forum Leaders meeting in Niue after it was excluded from dialogue meetings in New Zealand.

Instead, Fiji officials have been advised to hold all their bilaterals with the other 15 Forum dialogue partners in Niue.

Fiji's interim foreign minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has told Fiji TV he is disappointed that Fiji was not included in the dialogue

The interim government has now written to the Forum chairman and Tongan Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele asking him to intervene.

Ratu Epeli said Fiji might have to rethink its position in attending the meeting if it continues to be singled out by Australia and New Zealand.

While the New Zealand government has offered to hold the bilaterals in Auckland, Fiji has been excluded.