The Pacific Island Leaders Forum has decided that the interim government should nominate an election date by 1st May, 2009.

In the communique released after the special forum in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific leaders stress that elections should be held in Fiji by the end of December this year and the interim government should publicly declare the timeframe for election on 1st May this year.

The leaders considered that the timelines specified in these decisions are consistent with the position stated to the Forum leaders by the representative of the interim government on a timetable for the return to democracy.

Fijivillage is now trying to confirm whether Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum gave a timetable to the forum on the path to elections.

The Pacific Forum has also stated that more than two years of rule by an unelected military government, with no clear timetable for the return of constitutional government to the people, is not acceptable by international standards including those embraced by all Forum members and enshrined in the Biketawa Declaration, and emphasized the need to restore democracy without further delay.

The Pacific leaders also reaffirmed in their meeting in PNG that there are long term issues that need to be addressed in Fiji, including through independent and inclusive political dialogue but that such dialogue must primarily focus on the holding of elections. The Forum stresses the dialogue process should not be the cause for further delay in holding elections

The Pacific Island Forum called on the interim government to take the following actions to demonstrate its commitment to the restoration of parliamentary democracy in Fiji:-

1. provide to Forum leaders a new timetable agreed with all key political stakeholders, specifying in detail the agreed steps to elections and return to democracy, and the timing for completing them, reflecting a consensus reached through a genuine, open, inclusive dialogue without threats, preconditions, ultimatums or predetermined outcomes.

2. Make a clear commitment that any reforms agreed through political dialogue will be implemented in accordance with the constitution and laws of Fiji

3. Undertake and sustain serious and credible election preparations, including allocation of necessary resources to the Office of the Supervisor of Elections, and the prompt preparation of the electoral roll

4. Make a renewed commitment that the military will withdraw from civilian politics following such an election, return to the barracks and submit to the authority of the elected civilian government in accordance with the constitution.

The forum has also agreed that targeted measures will be taken if the interim government does not adhere to the timeline set.

The measures will include the suspension of participation by the Leader, Ministers and officials of the interim government in all forum meetings and events and ineligibility of the interim government to benefit from Forum regional cooperation initiatives and new financial and technical assistance.

The Forum leaders have also called on the international community to support the measures outlined by taking complementary actions to encourage the prompt restoration of elected constitutional government in Fiji.