By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Declaring that the takeover by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces as unconstitutional and unacceptable, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Pacific Islands Forum urged for the immediate restoration of constitutional and democratic government in Fiji.
The Ministers met in Port Vila, Vanuatu on 16 March 2007 to discuss the situation in Fiji and consider the PIF’s response, under the Biketawa Declaration, to the actions of RFMF and the Fiji interim government.
The meeting was chaired by Paul Tiensten, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade of Papua New Guinea, and was attended by the Prime Minister of Samoa, the Premier of Niue and Ministers from Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Minister of State Temmy Shmull represented Palau.
However, no official statement yet from Palau about this trip.
The United States Government through its embassy in Palau expressed its full support on the PIF member states’ call for the restoration democracy in Fiji and identify a number of specific steps that Fiji should undertake toward that goal.
The US in a statement said that it shares the position of the PIF Foreign Ministers that the Fiji military must end its human rights abuses, withdraw from politics and return to the barracks.
"We also join Forum members in calling for a lifting of the state of emergency in Fiji and the restoration of the full independence of the judiciary," the US statement noted.
The US said that it supports democratic rule and the rule of law adding that the Fiji military and its supporters took power illegally without a mandate from the people.
"the United States once again calls for the military to step down and allow for the full and rapid return of democracy to Fiji," the US press statement said.
A delegation led by the Interim Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Fiji attended the meeting in order to brief the Foreign Ministers.
The Ministers have received a report from the Chair of the Forum Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) on the Group's visit to Fiji from 29 January to 1 February 2007, and endorsed its recommendations as a way forward to the restoration of constitutional and democratic government in Fiji. Ministers also received a presentation from the Fiji interim government in response to the EPG Report.
The Ministers reiterated their profound concern that the takeover of Government by the RFMF was unconstitutional and unacceptable and urged Fiji to expedite a return to parliamentary democracy as soon as possible.
The Ministers noted Fiji's 36-month time frame for a national election, its desire to return to democracy as soon as possible and its willingness to give consideration to a new timeline.
They affirmed the EPG's recommendation that the interim government should commit to a firm timetable for a national election which in the EPG's view should be held in between 18 months and two years, if not sooner.
They have also agreed that the Forum should commence a staged process of engagement with the interim government to that end. The Ministers agreed to recommend to Forum Leaders "that on the basis of commitments and demonstrable progress by the interim government to the immediate cessation of human rights abuses and a roadmap back to democracy, a phased package of financial and technical assistance would be offered to Fiji including support for the electoral process, assistance for the establishment of a credible and independent anti-corruption commission, and assistance to restore and maintain the independence of the judiciary."
They have also agreed that the EPG should remain constituted to advance the matters covered by its report.
"Depending on the willingness of the Fiji interim authorities to participate in the process, the Forum could move to the establishment of a joint working group of officials from Member countries, with Fiji, to engage with the interim government including on credible mechanisms for returning to democracy as soon as possible."
The joint working group would report to the EPG. Ministers invited the EPG to report to them on progress in approximately three months' time
The Ministers noted the statements and actions by the United Nations, the Commonwealth and several Post-Forum Dialogue Partners in response to developments in Fiji. Ministers reiterated their call on the international community to continue to identify what actions could be taken to support the restoration of constitutional and democratic governance in Fiji. Forum members were also encouraged to take bilateral actions in support of the recommendations agreed to by Ministers.