Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has welcomed the assurance by Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama to the Pacific Island leader’s forum that parliamentary elections will be held in the first quarter of 2009.
Speaking to Village News Qarase said he is happy that Commodore Bainimarama stated to the Forum leaders that he and the RFMF will accept the outcome of the elections in 2009.
Earlier today our news Director Vijay Narayan who is in Tonga confirmed that Commodore Bainimarama expressed disappointment that Australia and New Zealand were not forth coming during the Leader retreat and hopes relations with the two countries will improve in the months ahead.
After the Leaders retreat, Commodore Bainimarama also confirmed that New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Australian Foreign Minister Alexandra Downer were the most vocal after he addressed the leaders in Vavau.
Bainimarama revealed that the two leaders did not agree to some of the outcomes adopted by the Forum on the situation in Fiji but hopes things will change after he gave an assurance the elections will be held in the first quater of 2009.
Following the retreat, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced that New Zealand will review its sanctions which target the military and their families, when Fiji achieves credible benchmarks. She said donor nations such as New Zealand, Australia and the EU are ready to support Fiji on its path back to democracy.
Meanwhile, the National Federation Party has also welcomed Interim Prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama's assurance that general elections will be held in 2009.
Party president, Raman Pratap Singh said elections must be held in the specified timeframe.
