1 Sep 2012

Forum maintains stance on Fiji

4:25 am on 1 September 2012

The Pacific Islands Forum has maintained its stance on Fiji, and says it is not concerned about the regime establishing diplomatic ties with Iran and North Korea.

The Forum leaders have spent the day on Tapuaetai island, in the Cook Islands, at their annual retreat.

Before the retreat, several leaders had expressed a desire to see Fiji, which has been suspended from the Forum since 2009, back at the table.

The Cook Islands Prime Minister, and the new Forum chair, Henry Puna, says leaders were united.

"There is a understanding and acceptance that the integrity of the Forum position reached in 2009 must be maintained for the sake of the integrity of the organisation and also because some very clear fundamental principles set out that has been accepted by all Forum Island countries."

he Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna.