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Prime Minister Helen Clark is concerned that Fiji's interim leader looks set to boycott the Pacific Islands Forum and says the situation in Fiji is casting a "stain on the Pacific".
New Zealand had given Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama no excuse for avoiding fronting up to Pacific leaders about
plans to return Fiji to democracy, Helen Clark said today.
Cdre Bainimarama and members of his regime have been banned from entering New Zealand since the December 2006 coup, but they had been allowed transit through New Zealand to attend the forum in Niue this week.
Cdre Bainimarama said he was not going because New Zealand would not let him attend talks in Auckland at the end of the forum.
The post-forum dialogue is being held in Niue but some countries' leaders have organised bilateral meetings with non-member countries in Auckland - something the New Zealand Government has no role in organising.
"In view of certain developments a decision has been taken that Fiji will not attend the forum meeting in Niue," Cdre Bainimarama said in a statement today.
"This regrettable and unfortunate situation of Fiji not participating in the forum meeting in Niue arises because of the decision taken by the government of New Zealand."
Helen Clark said Cdre Bainimarama was avoiding fronting up to the forum after breaking promises he made to leaders last year about elections early in 2009.
"If that's what he's saying then I suspect that he was looking for an excuse. It was not New Zealand's intention to provide him with an excuse not to come, which is why I agreed that he should be able to transit through Auckland airport," she said.
"I think it speaks volumes if they are not prepared to come and be accountable to forum leaders, but obviously we are going to await formal advice as to whether they are coming or not."
Pacific leaders would feel snubbed: "Most definitely if that indeed is his position".
Helen Clark said he may also face problems at home - Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare was ousted in an election not long after boycotting a forum during which concerns about his leadership and relationship with Australia were to be raised.
"Sometimes something like that happening can change the internal dynamic at home."
Helen Clark said whether Cdre Bainimarama showed up or not, the forum would consider a ministerial contact group report into Fiji.
"I think it offers a way forward," Helen Clark said of the yet to be released report.
"My assessment is that leaders feel that the events in Fiji are really casting a stain on the Pacific. The leaders want to be seen and have the forum be seen to continue to be leading international opinion and action on the issue.
"So it's going to be taken very seriously whether or not the commodore is there."
Asked about resignations of Labour members from the interim government, including its leader Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, Labour Minister Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi and Tourism and Communications Minister Tom Ricketts, Helen Clark said she was not surprised and rumours had been around for weeks.
"If a rather tenuous interim government sees interim ministers resigning from it, yes I would have thought it would further destabilise the situation in Fiji."
- NZPA