Auckland offered for crisis meeting on Fiji

By AUDREY YOUNG

New Zealand is offering to host a special meeting of Pacific Forum Foreign Ministers, including a representative of the Fiji Government, which New Zealand does not recognise as legitimate.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff confirmed last night that support was being canvassed for the meeting ahead of the forum leaders' summit in October in Kiribati.

It would explore a coordinated regional response to Fiji and the future of the forum secretariat, at present based in Suva.

Auckland has been offered as a venue, with an alternative being Honolulu, on the United States island of Hawaii.

Mr Goff said the forum secretariat was canvassing support for the meeting, which had been Samoa's idea.

Australia supported it, too.

Mr Goff ruled out accepting a Fijian minister if he or she were blacklisted supporters of Fiji coup leader George Speight.

"If it was a Speight supporter, I think the answer would be definitely no."

Representation from Fiji would be easier if it were a top official rather than a minister, given that the legitimacy of the Government was not recognised, Mr Goff said.

"But the truth is New Zealand is not going to put itself outside a regional meeting because Fiji is present.

"That simply removes New Zealand's ability to influence thinking at that particular meeting."

Mr Goff leaves today for Bangkok to attend his first Asean Regional Forum meeting, which focuses on regional security issues.

He will meet at least 20 other ministers, including United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

North Korea is taking part for the first time, and Mr Goff said he would meet its Foreign Minister to discuss establishing diplomatic relations.