The Fiji Government is in the process of getting confirmation as to which Pacific Islands leaders will attend a "Friends of Fiji" meeting next week.

Permanent Secretary in the Prime Ministers Office Lt Col. Pio Tikoduadua speaking to Fijivillage late last night confirmed that the MSG plus meeting which was supposed to be held in Fiji, will not be held but instead a "Friends of Fiji" meet will take place.

Tikoduadua said Government is in the process of confirming the availability of the other Pacific Island leaders, minus Vanuatu Prime Minister, Edward Natapei.

Tikoduadua said once more details are confirmed a statement will be released.
 
Meanwhile Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has questioned why Vanuatu Prime Minister and Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Edward Natapei has changed his tune that the MSG should not be chaired by a non-elected leader.

Commodore Bainimarama said Natapei never brought up this issue earlier, even when Bainimarama went to attend the MSG Summit in Vanuatu.

While deferring the MSG Plus meeting in Fiji, Natapei said this is a collective decision of the leaders of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the FLNKS in New Caledonia and Vanuatu in light of the current impasse within the grouping over the Chairmanship of the MSG.

Natapei said the potential long term ramifications of allowing Fiji to Chair the MSG this time cannot be ignored.

He said there are basic fundamental principles, values of democracy and good governance that the organization is built on and they must continue to uphold them.

However Commodore Bainimarama said it is Australia that had a problem with Fiji hosting and chairing the MSG meeting.

Story by: Ana Naisoro and Paradise Tabucala