18 Jun 2010

Fiji waits on confirmation of MSG meeting attendees

8:36 am on 18 June 2010

Reports from Fiji says the interim government in Suva is yet to hear whether Tonga, East Timor and Micronesian countries will join next month's Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting.

The gathering is scheduled for late July ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Vanuatu in early August when Fiji will be absent because of its suspension from the body last year.

The website Fijivillage reports that so far Kiribati has been the only non-MSG country to confirm its attendance of the Fiji meeting.

It says the meeting will discuss political issues and trade issues facing the Pacific region.

Fiji is reportedly keen to update the gathering of its plans leading up to 2014 when the military regime has signalled it will relinquish power to an elected government.