LONDON (Pacnews) — The Commonwealth’s priority for Fiji is to re-engage it so that the island nation can return to democratic rule, says its Secretary-General Don McKinnon.
“Our priority now is not to isolate Fiji, but to engage and see it come in from the cold,” he said.
McKinnon made the comment in a message to mark Commonwealth Day.
This year’s theme is “Respecting Difference, Promoting Understanding.”
Fiji’s Commonwealth membership has been suspended for the second time after the military takeover in December.
Queen Elizabeth II, in her address as the head of the Commonwealth, said it has become even more important in today’s difficult and sometimes divided world “to keep trying to respect and understand each other better.”
“Each and every one of us has hopes, needs and priorities. Each of us is an individual, with ties of emotion and bonds of obligation to culture, religion, community, country and beyond. In short, each of us is special. The more we see others in this way, the more we can understand them and their points of view,” she said.