The Chairman of the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum remains hopeful the leaders can change Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama's mind on holding elections next year.

Nuie's Premier Toke Talagi said the regional agency is still pushing for Fiji to hold elections in March, 2009 as the rift between Fiji and New Zealand and Australia widens with the expulsion of NZ Acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald and the non-renewal of visas for both countries' defense attaché’s.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Talagi said he was disappointed with the Interim Government's move because it was well aware of the sanctions that have now been in place for more than two years.

The Forum leaders are to meet in Port Moresby next month to discuss the Fiji crisis and one possibility is that Fiji could be suspended from the body, if elections are not held in March next year as per Commodore Bainimarama's earlier commitment.

Talagi said as it stands, they are still sticking to the promise and they believe that Commodore Bainimarama must consider the consequences of that promise, if the elections don't take place.