Pacific Forum working group calls for Fiji to rejoin
Updated
The Pacific Forum's Fiji joint working group has called on Fiji's interim government to lift its self-imposed suspension of its membership to the group.
Our Pacific correspondent, Campbell Cooney, reports there has been no comment on if the working group will continue without Fiji as a member.
On Saturday Fiji's Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama informed the Pacific Island's Forum, he was suspending his government's involvement in the joint "Fiji, Forum Working Group".
The working group was formed after the December 2006 coup to coordinate Forum member nation efforts to assist Fiji prepare for its promised elections next March.
But Commodore Bainimarama says the group is dominated by Australia and New Zealand, and the travel bans imposed by both countries is affecting his regime's efforts to return to democracy.
After a meeting in Suva, the group, minus Fiji's representatives, released a statement calling on Fiji to remain engaged with it, but giving no indication if the group would continue meeting without a Fijian representative.
The delegates attending refused to talk to reporters waiting outside.
