Pacific

Bainimarama says no sparks will fly from him during Pacific Forum leaders meeting

07:32 am on 16 October 2007

Fiji's interim prime minister says no sparks will fly from his end when he meets Pacific Forum leaders, including the New Zealand counterpart, in Tonga today.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama has told Fiji's ministry of information that he is looking forward to dialogue with Pacific Island nations, especially Australia and New Zealand.

On the New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark's threat to walk out of any meetings in which Commodore Bainimarama participates, he says he cannot be responsible for the actions of other leaders.

Commodore Bainimarama has acknowledged that a lot of uncertainty in Fiji was due to the absence of an elected government.

He says Fiji wants to go to the polls and it's just not true that the interim administration wants to postpone having elections.

Commodore Bainimarama says last weekend's appointment of the Constituency Boundaries Commission is proof of the administration's commitment to returning the country to democracy.