The permanent secretary of the PM’s office, Parmesh Chand, said interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama had been communicating with the Pacific Forum Island Secretariat’s chairman, Tongan PM Feleti Sevele.
“All matters pertaining to the group is handled by the Pacific Islands Forum in collaboration with the Foreign Affairs Ministry,” Chand said.
“The [interim] prime minister has communicated with the chairman of the Forum and [Bainimarama] has welcomed in principle their visit,” he added. “All matters relating to the timing, logistics need to be addressed to the PIF and Foreign Affairs Ministry.”
The acting deputy secretary for the Department of Information, Maj. Neumi Leweni, said the interim government was supportive of those who engaged themselves in any discussions or meeting that would be of benefit to the nation.
“Therefore, if the two gentlemen are visiting the country for those reasons then there is no reason for concern,” he added.
Sevele told Radio Australia Commodore Bainimarama was aware that the Australian and New Zealand foreign ministers would be in Fiji next week to attend the meeting and there was no question about their attendance.
The meeting comes three weeks after Fiji suspended its involvement with the Pacific Forum joint working group, saying it was being dominated by Australia and New Zealand.
