New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clarke will not boycott any meeting because of Interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama's presence, at the Pacific Island Leaders Forum in Tonga.
Our News Director, Vijay Narayan who is in Nuku'alofa filed this report.
Vijay Narayan: “NZ PM Helen Clarke said she will not walkout of any meeting at the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in Tonga this week. Clarke told Village News here in Nuku’alofa that there were no reports in NZ that she will boycott any meetings that Fiji’s interim PM Commodore Frank Bainimarama would attend.
NZ Pm Helen Clarke: “Well I should be at the opening session this afternoon that should be a little treat, there has been no such reports”.
Vijay Narayan: “Meanwhile Helen Clarke’s name was not formally announced this morning when the colourful official opening ceremony of the forum took place in presence of Tongan King George Tupou, Clarke said she doesn’t know what had happened”.
However, Clarke has refused to meet with Bainimarama.
The Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer has confirmed that he will attend all meetings, rejecting earlier claims that he would boycott some meetings at the Pacific Island Leaders Forum which Interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama would attend.
In an interview with our News Director, Vijay Narayan, Downer said he has been a Foreign minister for 11 and a half years and he has been in the same room with many people whose views he has agreed and disagreed with and vice versa.
He did not elaborate on the presence of Bainimarama in Tonga, but adds that the Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele has the right to invite who he wants.
Downer added that he would like the Forum to endorse the findings of the Eminent Person's Group and also ensure that Fiji goes to elections by the first quarter of 2009 and also added that he hopes good sense would prevail and that all the Pacific Island Leaders agree that Fiji needs to return to democracy.
Commodore Bainimarama has confirmed that he will meet with the Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon this afternoon after a double booking prevented Bainimarama from attending a dinner hosted by McKinnon last night.
NZ Pm will not boycott any meetings in Tonga
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