Australia and New Zealand Foreign Ministers say the Pacific Island Forum Special Meeting in Port Moresby should continue and Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama should attend to explain Fiji's plans on elections.
In an interview with Pacific Beat, Australia Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, while sympathising with Fiji over the floods, said the question of the coup and its ramifications have a much greater bearing.
Smith said he is willing to allow Bainimarama to transit through Australia if it enables him to attend the Port Moresby meeting.
Smith also said they do want Bainimarama to attend and if this is not the case then an Interim Government representative being sent would be preferable to no one turning up for Fiji at all.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCulley said the Commodore gave a clear and unequivocal commitment to Forum leaders that elections will be held by March 2009, adding this commitment will not be kept.
The Pacific Island Special Forum Meeting is expected to be held next week in Port Moresby.
Meanwhile, Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama is yet to respond to PNG Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare's request for him to reconsider his decision not to attend the special Pacific Island Leaders Forum meeting on Tuesday.
Deputy Information Secretary Major Neumi Leweni said Bainimarama is still in Labasa and discussions on Somare's letter will be made once he returns from the North.
While other Forum members are raising frustration at the latest twist from Fiji, in an interview with Pacific Beat, PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is confident a solution will be found.
Bainimarama wrote to the Forum Chair, Toke Talagi stating his inability to attend the meeting and asking for the Forum Leader's understanding of Fiji's situation after the severe flooding as it is his priority to look after the Fiji people.
He also asked for a deferment of the meeting which is scheduled to take place next Tuesday in PNG.
Forum Special Meet Should Continue-Aust, NZ
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