dated 15 September 2000

FOURTEENTH MEETIING - CMAG - September 15, 2000 - New York Concluding Statement - Fiji Islands (section in full)

CMAG reviewed developments in Fiji Islands since it had last met on June 6, 2000. The Group received the report of its mission which visited Fiji in June, and also heard presentations from the deposed Prime Minister Mr Mahendra Chaudhry and the Prime Minister of the Interim Administration, Mr Laisenia Qarase.

CMAG welcomed the fact that Mr Chaudhry, other Government Ministers and hostages had been released and that action had been taken by the Interim Administration against some leaders of last May's coup. The Group noted that the Interim Administration has announced its intention to replace Fiji's 1997 Constitution within a year and that it intends to hold elections within two years.

CMAG rejected this timetable as incompatible with the provisions of the Millbrook Action Programme on the Harare Declaration, and inadequate in terms of the need to promote national reconciliation and unity in Fiji as a matter of urgency. CMAG noted that the 1997 Constitution had been unanimously endorsed by the Great Council of Chiefs and by the two houses of the Fiji Parliament. CMAG also expressed its very real concern that the Interim Administration intends that the new Constitution incorporate further restrictions on the basis of racial origin. CMAG viewed with concern that the Interim Administration in Fiji is itself the product of the unconstitutional overthrow of an elected government, and its actions therefore lack both legitimacy and credibility.

CMAG concluded that pending the restoration of democracy, Fiji should remain suspended from the Council of the Commonwealth, in keeping with the provisions of the Millbrook Action Programme.

The Group decided it should remain engaged with the situation in Fiji and expressed the wish to assist Fiji to return without delay to democratic governance. It agreed to continue a dialogue with the Interim Administration and to this end CMAG requested the Commonwealth secretary-general to appoint a Special Envoy who would act as a facilitator to accelerate the restoration of democracy and to promote national unity in Fiji. The Group agreed to again examine the situation in that country at its next meeting with the benefit of reports from the Special Envoy.