Outcomes of 34th Forum-Fiji JWG meeting
PRESS STATEMENT (128/08)
4th December 2008
Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji Joint Working Group on the Situation in Fiji
4 December 2008, Forum Secretariat, Suva
AGREED OUTCOMES
The Working Group held its thirty-fourth meeting at the Forum Secretariat Headquarters in Suva on 4 December 2008, attended by senior officials from Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, and Tuvalu.
The Working Group received a presentation from Dr Sitiveni Halapua and Mr Robin Nair, independent interlocutors to the political leaders’ dialogue. The interlocutors briefed the Working Group on the outcomes of the political leaders’ meeting held on 27 October and the views of the interlocutors on steps toward the next meeting of political leaders – tentatively scheduled for late December - and the subsequent President’s Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF). The Working Group also discussed with the interlocutors their recent talks with officials from the UN and Commonwealth Secretariat, and possible progress toward convening the PPDF in early 2009. Working Group members welcomed the briefing and noted the progress made toward commencing political dialogue, recalling the terms of Forum Leaders’ support for an independent and inclusive political dialogue process, complementary to implementation of Fiji’s commitments to the Forum on elections.
The Working Group agreed to allow a little further time for members to seek official agreement to the proposed revised Terms of Reference agreed ad referendum at the previous meeting.
The Working Group discussed preparations for the Ministerial Contact Group’s visit to Fiji on 10-12 December.
The Working Group will hold its next meeting on 19 January 2009.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
4 December 2008
4th December 2008
Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji Joint Working Group on the Situation in Fiji
4 December 2008, Forum Secretariat, Suva
AGREED OUTCOMES
The Working Group held its thirty-fourth meeting at the Forum Secretariat Headquarters in Suva on 4 December 2008, attended by senior officials from Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, and Tuvalu.
The Working Group received a presentation from Dr Sitiveni Halapua and Mr Robin Nair, independent interlocutors to the political leaders’ dialogue. The interlocutors briefed the Working Group on the outcomes of the political leaders’ meeting held on 27 October and the views of the interlocutors on steps toward the next meeting of political leaders – tentatively scheduled for late December - and the subsequent President’s Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF). The Working Group also discussed with the interlocutors their recent talks with officials from the UN and Commonwealth Secretariat, and possible progress toward convening the PPDF in early 2009. Working Group members welcomed the briefing and noted the progress made toward commencing political dialogue, recalling the terms of Forum Leaders’ support for an independent and inclusive political dialogue process, complementary to implementation of Fiji’s commitments to the Forum on elections.
The Working Group agreed to allow a little further time for members to seek official agreement to the proposed revised Terms of Reference agreed ad referendum at the previous meeting.
The Working Group discussed preparations for the Ministerial Contact Group’s visit to Fiji on 10-12 December.
The Working Group will hold its next meeting on 19 January 2009.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
4 December 2008
