The Pacific Islands Forum yesterday lifted Fiji’s suspension from the regional body following the island nation’s return to democracy last month.
“Forum leaders were unanimous in their decision to lift Fiji’s suspension,” forum chairman and Palauan President Tommy Remengesau said in a statement.
Fiji was suspended from the group of 16 nations in 2009 after then-coup leader and now Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama reneged on a pledge to hold elections in the wake of a military takeover three years earlier.
Remengesau said the Fijian government had been advised of the decision.
“I offer again our warm congratulations to the newly elected government of Prime Minister Bainimarama and commend the people of Fiji for their full participation in the historic election of their leaders and representatives,” he said.
Bainimarama held elections last month and won by a landslide. The forum, mostly made up of impoverished island states, was set up to help coordinate areas such as fisheries across its members’ vast ocean territories.
In recent years, it has taken a leading role in raising global awareness about climate change, which directly threatens the existence of some of its low-lying members, such as Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Despite yesterday’s decision, Fiji’s participation in the forum is not guaranteed, because Suva set up its own rival grouping, the Pacific Islands Development Forum, while it was suspended.
Fijian Minister for Foreign Affairs Inoke Kubuabol said earlier this year that Fiji would not rejoin the Pacific Islands Forum unless Australia and New Zealand were expelled, because they dominate the body in its current form.
There was no comment from Fiji on the PIF statement. The Commonwealth lifted a similar ban on Fiji last month after what it said were “credible” elections.
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