The Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Ratu Epeli believes Fiji and other Pacific Island nations are fully aware of the reasons why Australia and New Zealand need Fiji involved in the regional free trade talks.
At the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Leaders forum in Vanuatu yesterday, it has been reported that pacific island states are split over support for Fiji and the small islands nations believe that trade talks will not achieve anything without Fiji's inclusion.
Following that, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key recommended to get Fiji formally involved in the PACER PLUS trade talks which were agreed to.
However, Ratu Epeli said it is under pressure that the two countries want Fiji in the trade talks and it does not signal a change in stance towards Fiji.
Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has denied that South Pacific nations are split over support for Fiji, after several leaders failed to attend the forum in Vanuatu.
Speaking at a press conference Smith said he detect no inkling, no support, no suggestion that the Pacific Island Forum would do anything other than that which it has done in the past, which is to unanimously adopt the position that Fiji is suspended from the forum pending a return to democracy.
Story by: Roneel Lal
Acting PM aware of why Fiji is needed in regional trade talks
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