Frendo to meet Fiji military leaders on Friday

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo will be in Suva, capital of the Fiji Islands, on Friday, to meet Commodore Bainimarama and convey to him the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group's (CMAG) concerns on the current political situation in the country and try to get assurance of a return to true democracy in the least possible time.

Minister Frendo, who is currently the chairman of CMAG, was requested to visit Fiji on this mission, when the group met in New York a week ago.

Commodore Bainimarama has agreed to receive and have talks with Minister Frendo, who in return is expected to report on his talks in Fiji, when CMAG meets again in Kampala, Uganda next month.

Minister Frendo would be seeking assurance from the military leader, that elections in Fiji will be held by next March, if not sooner, and that all parties be allowed to participate fully and freely in these elections.

At the moment Fiji is suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth, pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country, following the military overthrow of the democratically elected government.