KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister John Key has criticised Fiji interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama's decision to pull out of a critical meeting with Pacific Island leaders next week and warned of a "growing frustration" among the leaders.
Commodore Bainimarama yesterday confirmed he would not go to a special meeting of Pacific Island Forum leaders in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday because of the destruction caused by recent flooding in Fiji. The leaders of the 16 member countries will consider whether to take the unprecedented step of suspending Fiji from the forum for its failure to hold elections.
Mr Key said he was "disappointed but not surprised" at the commodore's decision. He said there was sympathy for Fiji's people for the flooding but there was a "growing frustration" among Pacific leaders about the interim government's apparent unwillingness to show it was serious about holding elections.
"I believe this was his opportunity to front up and give an explanation of the timetable towards those elections. He's going to fail to take that opportunity and he's certainly not strengthening his hand by failing to turn up."
Commodore Bainimarama said he had written to the forum's chairman, Toke Talagi, asking for the meeting to be delayed so he could attend and seeking the understanding and goodwill of other members.
Mr Key said New Zealand would be "respectful" at the forum.
"We're not going there to be a bully in any shape or form. But we have got a strong view on this matter. This is not a case of Australia and New Zealand acting out of sync with other Pacific leaders."
