16 Jan 2009

Fiji's General Voters Party reiterates request to Forum Secretariat

6:09 pm on 16 January 2009

A Fiji political party has reiterated its request to the Pacific Forum Secretariat, asking it to remove the possible suspension from the agenda of that summit.

Suspending Fiji from the regional body is one of the options to be discussed at a special Forum leaders summit in Port Moresby later this month.

The Secretariat has replied to the General Voters Party's initial letter, saying it does not have the authority to determine or limit the scope of leaders' discussions.

However the GVP says the support role which the Secretariat perform should provide leaders with the costs and benefits of their decisions so they are fully informed of the consequences.

The party is of the view that suspending Fiji carries serious consequences for the region and lead to the eventual destruction of the Forum.