Frendo on mission to Fiji

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo is on his way to the Fiji Islands for talks with military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama in a bid to obtain assurances on a return to true democracy in the least possible time.

Dr Frendo, who chairs the Commonwealth Minister's Action Group (CMAG), was given this task when Commonwealth ministers met in New York earlier this month.

During a meeting tomorrow, he is expected to convey to Comm. Bainmarama the CMAG's concerns on the political situation in the country.

Fiji is suspended from all Commonwealth councils after the coup d'etat carried out last year which overthrew the democratically-elected government.

Dr Frendo will be seeking an assurance from the military leaders that elections in Fiji will be held at least by not later than next March and that every political group will be free to contest the elections.

He will be reporting on this mission to Fiji when the CMAG meets at the Commonwealth summit in Uganda in November.