dated 20 September 2001

FIFTEENTH MEETIING - CMAG - March 20, 2001 - Concluding Statement - Fiji Islands (section in full)

3. CMAG reviewed developments in Fiji Islands since its last meeting in New York on 15 September 2000. The Group received a report from the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the activities of his Special Envoy to Fiji, the Hon. Justice Pius Langa, Deputy President of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, who visited Fiji in December 2000, January 2001 and March 2001.

4. The Group welcomed Fiji's Court of Appeal ruling of 1 March, which upheld the Fiji High Court decision of 15 November 2000 declaring the 1997 Constitution as the supreme law of the country. The Group also welcomed the acceptance by all sections of Fiji's society, in particular the President, the previous interim government and the Great Council of Chiefs, of the verdict of the Court of Appeal. Ministers took note that a new Interim Government has taken office in Suva and expressed satisfaction that this Caretaker Administration will work towards holding free and fair elections, under the 1997 Constitution from 27 August to 7 September 2001, as advised by the interim Prime Minister, in order to restore democracy and the rule of law in Fiji.

5. CMAG expressed support for the work of the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Justice Pius Langa, and agreed that the Special Envoy should continue his efforts to promote national unity and the restoration of democracy in Fiji. Ministers asked the Secretary-General to provide such technical assistance to Fiji for the restoration of democracy as may be appropriate.