By Xinhua,
Wellington : The Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group said on Wednesday that there is no reason for Fiji’s interim government to delay general elections next year.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told journalists in Suva, capital of Fiji, that the election is “doable,” the Pacnews regional news agency reported.
Their two-day meeting focused on the willingness and preparedness of the interim government to meet its undertaking in holding elections.
“We are all of the view that election is doable in 2009 and it’s a long time from now until March next year. The Ministerial Contact Group does not in anyway relent from the Pacific Islands Forum objective of an election in Fiji by the end of March 2009,” he added.
Smith said the Contact Group feels there was no need for Fiji to renege on promises to return the country to democracy next year provided there is “a political will” to do so.
“There is nothing that we’ve seen or heard which would stand in the way of that occurring provided there is political will,” he added.
Smith said the report by the Ministerial Contact Group will be tabled at the Forum Leaders Meeting in Niue next month for their consideration.
The Australian minister said it was important for the Contact Group to meet all stakeholders in Fiji, in order to give a fair assessment on the Fiji situation.
He was responding to reports that interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama was not happy with the group’s meeting with political leaders in Fiji
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters also shared the same sentiments.
Smith said the Australian Government will only lift its sanctions against Fiji if there are clear signs that Fiji was returning to democratic rule.
Foreign ministers from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa Tonga and Tuvalu are in Fiji to press the interim government to honor promises to hold elections by March, 2009.