Foreign ministers from the Pacific Islands Forum's 16 member states met in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland on Wednesday to discuss Fiji's commitment to holding election in March next year.
The Commonwealth Secretariat Special Envoy to Fiji Paul Reeves said the Fiji interim government's foreign minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, has told the meeting in Auckland that it is committed to an election next year.
However, Reeves said the Fiji presentation did not contain dates or milestones hoped for in the run-up to the elections, Radio New Zealand reported.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said earlier that dates are important as a sign of good faith.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said earlier that the Pacific island countries would keep the pressure on to ensure Fiji kept its promise.
Fiji's military seized power in a coup on Dec. 5, 2006. It was the fourth coup since 1987. At the Pacific Islands Forum summit held in Tonga last October, the Fiji interim government leader promised to hold general elections before the end of March, 2009.
A Fijian interim government delegation has been exempted from New Zealand's travel sanctions to attend Wednesday's meeting.
Peters said after the Fiji delegation made its presentation, the foreign ministers would then consider their responses.
Smith said on Tuesday that Australia and New Zealand both wanted to see a full and free election in Fiji next March, a timetable he described as realistic.
Source:Xinhua
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