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Helen Clark - Source: ONE News -
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Labour's foreign affairs spokeswoman says she approves of the Pacific Forum's threats to follow through with suspension of Fiji if its military government does not take appropriate measures.
Helen Clark says there is no practical barrier to an election before the end of this year, and the only barrier is simply self-appointed prime minister Frank Bainimarama not wanting to move in that direction.
She says if he does not, the forum will need to take action.
Clark warns that Fiji would miss out on the forum's regional programmes and initiatives, and would remain in crisis.
Clark says said no one believes Bainimarama when he says Fiji's government is legitimate.
Bainimarama seized power in a military coup in 2006.
On Tuesday, the forum gave Fiji until May to announce a date for elections this year or face partial suspension from the forum. It would also be cut off from regional co-operation initiatives and new financial and technical assistance.
Clark says the forum's response was credible.
"There were clearly voices there for not taking further action but that would have left the forum not looking particularly credible internationally.
"It is very important the Pacific Islands Forum is seen to be in the lead in the international response to Fiji and I think it has kept that lead with what it did yesterday."
She says an election this year depends on the "dynamic in Fiji" and if wiser counsel tells the commodore it is not sensible to be isolated from the rest of the Pacific by holding out on elections.
She says the Fiji government was put there at the barrel of a gun, but one of the problems is that Bainimarama does not know what his future would be under any changes.
"He is playing for time," she says.
Clark says if a timetable is set out, international donors will help with the cost of an election.
