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Aussie leader raises doubts on Fiji’s democracy timetable
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Posted on Nov 03 2000
Canberra (Radio Australia/PINA Nius Online) – Australian Prime Minister John Howard has questioned Fiji’s claim to have a firm timetable to return to democracy.
Mr. Howard said the jury is still out on the interim government’s efforts.
Reporting to Parliament on his return from the Pacific Islands Forum in Tarawa, Kiribati, Mr. Howard said he will not go to the summit next year if it is held in Suva.
“There have been some welcome statements of intention by the government of Fiji,” he said. “However it’s fair to say the jury is still out on how those intentions actually materialize, and because of that the venue of the next Forum meeting is as yet unresolved.
“I indicated that if the meeting were to take place in Suva, the government of Australia would have some difficulty being represented at the prime ministerial level and that is also the attitude being taken by the government of New Zealand.”
However, Mr. Howard said the Forum declaration on democracy is a major step for the region. “It recognizes the need for member states to collaborate when difficulties and crises emerge, and recognizes that as a last resort the adoption of targeted measures could well be necessary,” he said.
