28 Jul 2009

Commonwealth group to to take stock of Fiji developments

9:28 pm on 28 July 2009

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group will take stock of developments in Fiji when it meets on Friday.

Mr McCully departs for London tonight to attend the Commonwealth meeting on Fiji, before going to Australia to attend the Pacific Islands Forum.

He says a clear warning was issued by the Commonwealth Group earlier this year that Fiji would face suspension measures under the Commonwealth's Millbrook Declaration if it failed to heed calls, made by Forum leaders earlier this year, to make progress on a return to democracy.

He says its regrettable that the situation in Fiji has deteriorated further since March, contrary to the calls made by Forum leaders and the Commonwealth.