Forum EPG To Fiji Completes Consultations
PRESS STATEMENT 05/07
Thursday 1 February, 2007
Forum Epg To Fiji Completes Consultations
The Pacific Islands Forum Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) to Fiji today completed four days of consultations with stakeholders on the current situation in the country.
A meeting of Forum Foreign Ministers last month in Sydney gave the mandate for the establishment of the Group under the Biketawa Declaration.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EPG were:
• To assess the underlying causes and the nature of the overthrow of the Government of Fiji by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF);
• To assess the prospects for appropriate resolution of the present situation in Fiji in the short and medium term, and obstacles to such a resolution;
• To identify steps that the parties in Fiji may take to move swiftly and peacefully toward the restoration of democratic government, within the boundaries of Fiji’s constitution and the rule of law; and
• To consider the role the Forum and its members might most usefully play in assisting Fiji achieve this outcome.
“During the consultations we heard views on a wide range of issues including the Fiji Constitution, the underlying reasons for the coup, suggestions for the way forward, and governance and human rights abuses,” said Hon. Sato Kilman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, and the head of the EPG. “We are pleased with the access the Group was given to the various stakeholders.”
In accordance with its TOR, the Group will now make a report to be presented to the Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers at a meeting to be held soon.
During the consultations, the Group met with President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and members of both the interim and ousted government including Commander Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama and Mr Laisenia Qarase.
They also met with Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs), the former Vice President (by teleconference), representatives of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman’s Office, the business community, civil society including unions, NGOs and religious groups, the media, representatives of Forum member countries in Fiji and Post Forum Dialogue Partners in Fiji.
Some of the stakeholders who were unable to meet with the EPG sent in written submissions.
The rest of the EPG included Hon. Faumuina Luiga, Samoa’s Minister for Natural Resources and Environment; Sir Arnold Amet, retired Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea and General Peter Cosgrove, retired Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
The Group expressed its appreciation to the Forum Secretary General and staff of the Forum Secretariat for coordinating arrangements for the consultations.
ENDS
CAPTION:Forum EPG to Fiji (l-r) Hon. Faumuina Luiga, Samoa’s Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Sir Arnold Amet, retired Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Hon. Sato Kilman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, and the head of the EPG, and General Peter Cosgrove, retired Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
Photographs sourced from this website must be attributed to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat when republished
Thursday 1 February, 2007
Forum Epg To Fiji Completes Consultations
The Pacific Islands Forum Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) to Fiji today completed four days of consultations with stakeholders on the current situation in the country.
A meeting of Forum Foreign Ministers last month in Sydney gave the mandate for the establishment of the Group under the Biketawa Declaration.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EPG were:
• To assess the underlying causes and the nature of the overthrow of the Government of Fiji by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF);
• To assess the prospects for appropriate resolution of the present situation in Fiji in the short and medium term, and obstacles to such a resolution;
• To identify steps that the parties in Fiji may take to move swiftly and peacefully toward the restoration of democratic government, within the boundaries of Fiji’s constitution and the rule of law; and
• To consider the role the Forum and its members might most usefully play in assisting Fiji achieve this outcome.
“During the consultations we heard views on a wide range of issues including the Fiji Constitution, the underlying reasons for the coup, suggestions for the way forward, and governance and human rights abuses,” said Hon. Sato Kilman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, and the head of the EPG. “We are pleased with the access the Group was given to the various stakeholders.”
In accordance with its TOR, the Group will now make a report to be presented to the Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers at a meeting to be held soon.
During the consultations, the Group met with President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and members of both the interim and ousted government including Commander Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama and Mr Laisenia Qarase.
They also met with Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs), the former Vice President (by teleconference), representatives of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman’s Office, the business community, civil society including unions, NGOs and religious groups, the media, representatives of Forum member countries in Fiji and Post Forum Dialogue Partners in Fiji.
Some of the stakeholders who were unable to meet with the EPG sent in written submissions.
The rest of the EPG included Hon. Faumuina Luiga, Samoa’s Minister for Natural Resources and Environment; Sir Arnold Amet, retired Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea and General Peter Cosgrove, retired Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
The Group expressed its appreciation to the Forum Secretary General and staff of the Forum Secretariat for coordinating arrangements for the consultations.
ENDS
CAPTION:Forum EPG to Fiji (l-r) Hon. Faumuina Luiga, Samoa’s Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Sir Arnold Amet, retired Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Hon. Sato Kilman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, and the head of the EPG, and General Peter Cosgrove, retired Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
Photographs sourced from this website must be attributed to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat when republished
