Stakes are high at Key’s first meeting with Forum leaders in Papua New Guinea as the regional body discusses whether to take the groundbreaking step of suspending a member or imposing other sanctions on Fiji over the failure of the interim prime minister’s failure to take steps toward reinstating democracy.
Suspension would be a first for the Forum’s 16 member states, and is unlikely but discussions will be intense.
The Forum, which is based in Fiji, has no formal process for suspension and it will be up to leaders to thrash out measures they can take. It could be that Fiji is banned from participation in certain programs, for example.
Forum nations are disappointed at the lack of progress toward elections since the Dec. 2006 bloodless coup and over Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s decision not to attend the meeting because of domestic flooding.
PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on Friday said he had delayed the meet to allow Bainimarama to attend but Sir Michael’s office was forced to back down after chairing nation Niue overruled the decision.
Bainimarama is expected to send interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in his place to the Port Moresby gathering.
The meeting was called after Bainimarama reneged on a pledge he made to a Forum meeting in Tonga in 2007 to hold elections this March. He said electoral reform is needed first. The group will consider recommendations in a ministerial contact group report to be presented to leaders.
Key said the Forum was the right group to send a message to Bainimarama that he needed to put his country on a pathway to democracy.
“There needs to a recognition that if this group fails to send that message then it weakens the group over all and leaves that responsibility to another body,” Key told NZPA.
Key said he had a view on what action would be taken but would not prejudge the outcome of talks.
Key said the Forum was only as strong as its weakest link.
“We need to demonstrate the leadership that’s required. That doesn’t mean there’s not flexibility and we’re not sympathetic to some of the issues, particularly the flooding, nor should we be heavy handed but we do need to see progress.”
Key agreed that political willingness was needed for change but said the Forum was not impotent.
“In the end Frank Bainimarama will look to at least some of the Pacific Island leaders for support for his position and if that support’s not forthcoming that will have some impact on him,” Key said.
“I am more optimistic than some commentators that the Pacific Islands Forum can achieve a good outcome but I am also conscious of the fact that won’t occur unless there’s a willingness on Bainimarama’s part to see that occur.”
The coup culture in Fiji was hurting the country.
“What we can be sure of is an interim illegitimate government in a country which has been dominated by coups is not a recipe for economic success in the Pacific,” Key said.
Australia and New Zealand have imposed sanctions, including a ban on Government members, officials or their families getting travel visas, and last year New Zealand’s acting high commissioner was expelled.
