22 Feb 2012

New Cook Islands summit dates

9:41 pm on 22 February 2012

The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat has announced new dates for the 2012 summit in the Cook Islands.

It says the annual gathering will be held from 27 through to 31 August in Rarotonga.

That is two weeks later than the date the Cook Islands government confirmed in December 2011.

Fifteen of the 16 members are expected to attend, with Fiji being suspended since 2009 for reneging on its promise to restore democracy.

The Cook Islands last hosted the forum in 1997.