Foreign ministers from 16 Pacific countries will meet in Sydney
later this week to discuss the political crisis in Fiji amid
renewed fears of a coup.
Radio New Zealand International reported Monday that Pacific
Islands Forum Secretary General Greg Urwin said Fiji's Prime
Minister Laisenia Qarase had requested the meeting, which will be
held on Friday.
Under a Forum declaration, member countries can intervene to
help resolve unrest in another member state, but only at the
request of the affected government.
Urwin said Qarase had asked for the meeting to be held as soon
as possible and its purpose would be for the government of Fiji to
advise regional ministers on the current situation in Fiji.
Fiji's military commander Frank Bainimarama has been in New
Zealand visiting family and is expected to return to Fiji on
Tuesday.
Tensions in Fiji have been high since Bainimarama threatened
last month to remove Prime Minister Qarase from office.
Bainimarama ever backed down from those threats after Qarase met
his demand to amend controversial legislation, removing amnesties
for people convicted over Fiji's 2000 coup.
?
He issued last week demands to the government and a two-week
deadline to comply, and has recalled army reservists in readiness
for what he described as a clean-up of the Qarase government.
A spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters
said the foreign minister plans to attend the Pacific Forum
meeting.
Peters said he held talks with the Commodore in Wellington over
the weekend but neither has said what was discussed, said Radio New
Zealand International.
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)
