CANBERRA – Australia has confirmed that Fiji will not be allowed to attend next month's Pacific Islands Forum.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and heads of government from across the Pacific will gather in Cairns, in north-eastern Australia, next month to discuss issues affecting the region.
The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu want Fiji's suspension from the forum lifted.
But the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said Fiji will not be allowed to have a representative at the talks.
The department's Frank Leverett said “The situation is they are still a member of the forum but they are suspended from attending the leader's summit.
“In fact, there are occasions where we have the flags of all our member countries paraded during the forum and Fiji's flag will be included in that, because they are still a member.
“But the leader is not allowed to attend,” Mr Leverett told Radio Australia.
Fiji was suspended from the forum for failing to set a date for elections this year.
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