PIF needs NZ and Australia - Fiji academic

Transcript

A Fijian academic says New Zealand and Australia still have a strong role to play in the Pacific Islands Forum and that includes standing up to Fiji when necessary.

This month the Forum lifted Fiji's suspension but Fiji appears in no hurry to return and has called for New Zealand and Australia's role to be reassessed before it rejoins the group.

Amelia Langford filed this report.

Australia and New Zealand both objected strongly to the military takeover in 2006 led by Frank Bainimarama who was elected to power last month. But now the Forum members, including New Zealand and Australia, have lifted Fiji's five-year suspension from the group in recognition of September's return to democracy. However Fiji hasn't reclaimed its seat yet and is continuing to question New Zealand and Australia's prominence in the regional body. A former High Commissioner to Fiji, Michael Powles, says he thinks Fiji's stance could mellow with time.

MICHAEL POWLES: It's a legacy of the ill-will which has developed over the years and which Bainimarama has expressed quite strongly towards Australia and New Zealand. I wouldn't read too much into it actually. I mean, I don't necessarily think it is the last word on the subject.

He doesn't believe the majority of Forum members want New Zealand and Australia out of the Forum and says at this stage it still makes sense for New Zealand and Australia to remain. But he does say change is inevitable.

MICHAEL POWLES: I don't actually see any grounds for believing that they want New Zealand and Australia out. Of course, things are in a state of evolution. The Forum has existed in its present form for 20 or 30 years or more and things are changing in the Pacific.

Gerard Finin is the Director of the Pacific Islands Development Programme at Hawaii's East West Centre. Dr Finin also says Fiji may well change its stance as New Zealand and Australia both have something to offer.

GERARD FININ: Australia and New Zealand play a positive role in the region so I see their inclusion as something that will be of benefit for many reasons and to many countries in the future so I don't think it is a final statement about Fiji's decision.

A former Solomon Islands Central Bank governor, Tony Hughes, produced a report on regional cooperation in 2005 which called for five key agencies including the Forum to merge into a Pacific Commission. His report also said the confrontational style of Australia and New Zealand had intruded on the Pacific Islands Forum and grated upon Pacific Island sensibilities. Tony Hughes says at times Australia and NZ have demonstrated an un-Pacific insistence in getting their way.

TONY HUGHES: The problem is that Australia and New Zealand - their representatives behave in regional meetings somewhat like they behave in Australia - in other words they make their feelings known in no uncertain terms and this doesn't always go down so well with other people in the meeting.

Almost 10 years on from his report, Mr Hughes says questions remain about New Zealand and Australia's prominent role in the Forum and there is no doubt some underlying tension.

TONY HUGHES: There have sometimes been reservations by the Pacific Islanders about, you know, should Australia and New Zealand really be in here at this table - this is after all the Pacific Islands Forum and they are not Pacific islands. However they are very useful and most of the time we get on well so we would like them to be involved - but involved as full members - that is a different matter.

Tony Hughes says other Forum members may well agree with Fiji's stance but prefer Fiji to take action on the matter. He says Fiji appears to be saying the time has come for a change in the nature of the relationship between New Zealand, Australia and the Forum. However Alumita Durutalo of Otago University says Fiji is flexing its muscles and it needs to learn to negotiate. Dr Durutalo says New Zealand and Australia have a valid role to play in the Forum.

ALUMITA DURUTALO: Their demand is a bit unreasonable for me. Unreasonable in the sense that you cannot really start a war of words  - not just a war of words - trying to push New Zealand and Australia aside because they are part of the Pacific.

Alumita Durutalo says the Pacific needs some strong players to challenge Fiji, when necessary.

ALUMITA DURUTALO: We need some strong people within the organisation or some strong powers to say that coups are wrong. If not, it will be just like the MSG, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, they really can't stand up to Fiji I think.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully says it is up to Fiji how it responds but the way is now open for Fiji to participate in Forum activities.