Visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Tuesday there is no excuse for Fiji's Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama not to attend the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Niue, and Fiji will be a "major feature" of the summit despite the boycott.
Commodore Bainimarama announced on Monday that Fiji would boycott the Pacific Islands Forum Leader Meeting, blaming New Zealand for its decision to prevent a Fiji delegation from attending post-forum talks in Auckland.
"Fiji will still be, despite his (Bainimarama's) absence, a major feature of leaders discussions in Niue," Rudd said.
"There is no reason why Commodore Bainimarama should not attend for those discussions as he did last year," he added.
At last year's Forum, the Fiji interim prime minister pledged to hold fresh elections by the end of March 2009, but has since back flipped on that position.
Rudd said Australia remained of the view that Bainimarama "should meet his solemn commitment to hold elections by March next year".
Rudd flew into Auckland on Monday night for his first visit to New Zealand since taking office.
Source:Xinhua
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