US and France back Pacfic Forum Fji warning

Updated August 26, 2008 00:57:47

Commodore Frank Bainimarama's interim government is under fire for not attending the Niue talks. [AFP]

The United States and France have supported the Pacific Islands Forum's warning to suspend Fiji from working groups.

Forum leaders decided last week they might suspend Fiji from the organisation if Commodore Frank Bainimarama's interim government does not allow the country to return to democratic rule soon.

US principal deputy assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Glyn Davies applauded the Forum outcome, saying it was principled, firm, reasonable and balanced.

However Mr Davies says although Fiji's absence from Niue was a missed opportunity, it has not affected the relationship between Suva and Washington.

The Fiji Times quotes him as saying the US is keen to continue to support and help Fiji.

Oceania Flash quotes the French foreign ministry as saying France shares the concerns of the Forum member states and encourages the Fiji interim government to restore democracy as soon as possible.

Despite counterclaims from Fiji, Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua, says the threat to suspend Suva from the Pacific Islands Forum is supported by all the island countries, including those from Melanesia.

The forum sent a blunt signal to the regime in Fiji last week saying it had to re-commit to elections under the current constitution by March next year or they would consider its suspension.

Fiji' interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, says the stance was a New Zealand/Australia initiative and was not indicative of the position of all Pacific countries.

But Dr Sikua says the Melanesian Spearhead Group summit earlier this year strongly urged Fiji's Commodore Frank Bainimarama to hold elections next March as he had promised.