As the Forum Ministerial Contact Group wrapped its meetings to prepare a report for the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in Niue next month, the contact group today refused to reveal to the local and international media on whether Commodore Bainimarama has told them that elections will be held in March 2009.
Despite repeated questions on whether Bainimarama said to the group that the elections will be held under the current constitution and electoral system in March 2009, Tongan Foreign Minister, Sonatane Taumoepeau-Tupou said he will not reveal that information.
Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith also refused to divulge any information on whether Bainimarama has told them that Fiji will definitely go to the polls.
However Smith said the fact that dialogue is underway, the interim government needs to have the political will to have elections in the first quarter of 2009 as promised.
NZ Foreign Minister, Winston Peters also refused to reveal the details of the meeting with the members of the interim government.
Fijivillage News also questioned Peters on how the Ministerial Contact Group is saying that it is possible to have a timeframe of March 2009 to have elections when the Electoral Commission made it clear yesterday that they do not have a set timeframe as yet on when elections will be held.
Peters said the Electoral Commission's report to them was disappointing as his assessment is that elections can definitely be held in the first quarter of next year.
Peters said although the Forum agrees that elections is not the only issue that Fiji needs to address, he said any constitutional and electoral reform is the responsibility of an elected government and parliament.
However the Interim Prime Minister revealed today that the Ministerial Contact Group has accepted the fact that electoral reform has to take place before elections in March 2009.
Bainimarama made the statement with regards to the meeting with the Ministerial Contact Group yesterday.
