Tonga´s PM refutes claim on Fiji situation

Source: Xinhua | 02-23-2009 14:50

WELLINGTON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tonga's Prime Minister Feleti Sevele said it was misperception that Australia and New Zealand were imposing their will on other Pacific Islands Forum countries over the Fiji situation, Radio New Zealand International reported here on Monday.

Sevele said the Forum decision to threaten Fiji's interim government with partial suspension from the Forum if it doesn't name the date for 2009 elections by May 1st.

Fiji's interim government has said the Forum stance is being driven by Wellington and Canberra.

While Fiji's interim government was pushing ahead with arranging the agenda and terms of reference for the impending President's Political Dialogue Forum in Fiji, it has also reiterated that it won't hold elections this year.

Sevele said the ball was in the interim government's court.

"At the end of the day it's up to the Fiji interim government and the people of Fiji to work out what their future is and what they really want. As a Forum and this is where I said before the meeting in Papua New Guinea (PNG) that we should not be talking about expulsion or suspension of Fiji, we should be talking of finding a way to move forward," he was quoted as saying.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei