By Bernama
Wellington : The Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers on Wednesday called on the Fiji interim government to intensify efforts to ensure that elections can be held in the first quarter of 2009, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
They made the call at the one-day Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers meeting in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland. At the meeting, the foreign ministers were told that a detailed timetable for election preparations would be considered by the interim government in April.
At a press conference held Wednesday afternoon following the meeting, the foreign ministers said the timetable must “faithfully reflect commitments already made to Forum Leaders and the Working Group and be implemented without further delay.”
They welcomed advice that the appointment of the Supervisor of Elections would be finalised by the end of the week, and stressed that the People’s Charter process would not delay or distract from the holding of an election early next year.
They also acknowledged that an overall resolution of issues in Fiji would be a long-term exercise, and that any resolution processes should be independent and inclusive.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the interim Fiji cabinet will consider a timetable for the election in two weeks and, if approved, present it to the forum.
Fiji’s military seized power in a coup on Dec. 5, 2006. It was the fourth coup since 1987.
At the Pacific Islands Forum summit held in Tonga last October, the Fiji interim government leader promised to hold general elections before the end of March, 2009.
A Fijian interim government delegation has been exempted from New Zealand’s travel sanctions to attend Wednesday’s meeting.