Newly elected Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip said isolating Fiji from the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum is a big mistake.
The Solomon Star reports that Philip spoke on the issue of Fiji and stressed that his government will engage in direct talks.
Philip said the isolation of Fiji by the South Pacific Forum is a serious mistake and said Fiji is the home of several of our regional organisations.
He said Fiji's former leaders were the initiators of the South Pacific Forum and as long as the current government in Fiji is committed to returning their people to democratic rule, the question of timing should not be one of too much concern.
Philip said Fiji has a unique history, unlike many of the former British, Australian and French colonies in the Pacific.
The newly elected Solomon's Prime Minister said his government will discuss with the Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and identify the areas of electoral reform now being embarked upon.
He said where possible, they will seek to ensure that these reforms are carried out with genuine commitment.
Philip stressed that it is genuine commitment that is important, not the exact number of weeks or months it will take to hold democratic elections.
Meanwhile New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said his latest discussions with his Fiji counterpart Ratu Inoke Kubuabola are an important part of New Zealand staying engaged with Fiji.
McCully told Radio New Zealand that it is clear from this week's talks with Ratu Inoke that Fiji feels that the international community hasn't been listening to it enough.
Story by: Roneel Lal and Ana Naisoro
