PM on Reaching a Peaceful and Legal Settlement
Nov 30, 2006, 17:05

The Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has spoken further on measures to reach a peaceful and legal settlement to the differences between with the Army Commander, Voreqe Bainimarama.

In a nation wide telecast this afternoon the Prime Minister told the nation that his meeting with the Commander in New Zealand was divinely inspired and did not take place by chance.

He said Fiji owes a profound debt of gratitude to the Government and people of New Zealand for making the meeting possible.

Mr Qarase said he has also briefed both the President and the Vice President of the agreement between himself and the Commander.

He said both he and the commander engaged very directly on concerns raised by the Military. And while the atmosphere was cordial, both leaders explained their positions clearly.

“The atmosphere of our discussions was cordial. We had more than two hours of discussions. This is the longest of all the meetings that he and I have held. I give credit to him for agreeing to change his return travel arrangements in order to attend this very important meeting, Mr Qarase said.

“I know that what brought us together was our concern for the maintenance of peace and stability in Fiji.”

The Prime Minister also reiterated that what had happened in 2000 was illegal, and he has agreed to mount an information campaign stressing that the armed overthrow of a democratic government in May of 2000 and the attempted take-over of the Military headquarters in November that year were against the law.

“I told the Commander that the Government would welcome the assistance of the RFMF in providing to the Police the names of people it believes should be investigated and charged, in connection with the turmoil of 2000. The RFMF should make any evidence it has available to the Police.”

Mr Qarase also confirmed that the Government of Fiji has not asked for any kind of military intervention. In fact, the question of direct action by the Forum Secretariat would only arise if the democratically elected Government of Fiji were unlawfully removed from office.

The Prime Minister said he had received a message from the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, expressing the United Nations support for the course being followed by the Commander and himself.

He said he has in turn written to the Commander suggesting that they meet again as soon as possible for further discussions and with New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters again as moderator.

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