5 March 2009
Media Statement

Commonwealth decision on Fiji welcome

Rt Hon Helen Clark, Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, today welcomed the support of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) for the position on Fiji taken by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in Port Moresby in January.

Helen Clark said that the Forum and CMAG are in agreement that Fiji must nominate an election date by 1 May and hold the election by 31 December this year.

“Should Fiji fail to make progress on this timeline by September when CMAG meets again, Fiji will be fully suspended from the Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth has continued to offer support for a mediation process in Fiji, also involving the United Nations, which would lead to the restoration of constitutional and democratic government.

“It is to be hoped that the interim government in Fiji will heed the views of both the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum. The way is clear for an independently mediated dialogue to facilitate Fiji’s transition back to democracy.

“If the interim government supports this process, it will find Fiji’s friends in turn ready to support its electoral preparations and to resume support for Fiji’s ongoing development”, Helen Clark said.

ENDS

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