As Pacific Island leaders prepare for the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, where Fiji's situation will be discussed, reports are surfacing that Australian Prime Minister John Howard will not attend.
PACNEWS reports that Howard is expected to send a stand in, while New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has confirmed that she will be attending.
High on the agenda at the forum will be moves to restore democracy in Fiji following the military takeover on December 5th last year.
It has been confirmed that the Forum leaders will consider a report from their Foreign Minister on the work of the Eminent Persons Group which has been in consultations with the interim government in Fiji on elections to be held by March 2009.
Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama had earlier said that he will definitely attend the Tonga summit, despite statements by Howard and Clark that he would not be welcome.
The Pacific Islands Leaders Forum will get underway on October 14th in Nuku’alofa.
Aust PM May Not Attend Forum
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