KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark says it is important Fiji's stalled election process does not distract Pacific Island leaders from other pressing problems in the region.
Miss Clark will tomorrow fly out to the Pacific Islands Forum in Niue, where Fiji's broken commitment to hold elections early next year looks set to dominate.
Miss Clark will meet Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Auckland tomorrow ahead of the forum, with the annual gathering at the top of the agenda in bilateral talks.
They would discuss how to deal with Fiji, but she said it was important the forum also focused on other regional issues.
"Fiji is a big issue there and it's got to be dealt with but we don't want the focus to go off all the other important things that need to happen around the Pacific - helping people's development and economy and social progress - so let's hope Fiji is not a total distraction," she said on TVNZ's Breakfast show.
Miss Clark said it was hard to know how to deal with Fiji's self appointed prime minister Commodore Voreque Bainimarama after he promised forum leaders last year Fiji would hold elections in March next year, but has since gone back on that.
"How do you deal with someone like this? I hope he turns up. I hope he turns up and looks us in the eye and explains himself."
She would be more wary of any future commitments.
"Obviously nothing was meant sincerely last time and it's very difficult to deal with such people."
The forum's foreign ministers "contact group" has said a lack of political will is the only thing preventing elections being held next year.
The group would make a recommendation to leaders about what to do next.
At the forum, leaders will also discuss the Pacific Plan - an initiative to enhance co-operation between countries to overcome common challenges such as high fuel prices.
Miss Clark is hoping the forum will be able to agree to bulk fuel purchasing at a sub-regional level to lower fuel prices for some island countries.
The forum brings together the leaders of 16 Pacific countries.
- NZPA
