Issue No: 232; 28 November 2000
The Qarase regime has thanked Papua New Guinea for helping it gain legitimacy in the region and outside.
According to a report in yesterday's issue of PNG's National Newspaper Laisenia Qarase wrote to former Foreign Affairs
Minister of PNG, Sir John Kaputin on 9 November thanking Kaputin and the Papua New Guinea government for their part in
getting recognition for Fiji from neighbouring Pacific island nations and the world at large.
Qarase specifically thanked Sir John Kaputin for his efforts in leading a Pacific ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific)
Ministerial mission to report on Fiji, and Kaputin's help in getting Fiji to escape from the EU sanctions.
In his letter Qarase stated: "I would also like to take this opportunity Sir John to thank you most sincerely on behalf
of the government and people of Fiji for the very important role you have played as chairman of the Pacific ACP mission
to Fiji and for your support at the recent forum". Qarase invited Kaputin to visit Fiji at any time convenient to
Kaputin.
The letter now confirms that the leader of the ACP mission to Fiji was neither impartial nor did he reveal his bias to
the ACP or the EU before embarking on the mission.
END 28 November 2000.