GNZ HOSTS FIJI'S QARASE AND BAINIMARAMA FOR TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000938

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR D (FRITZ),EAP/FO, EUR/RPM, AND EAP/ANP
NSC FOR VICTOR CHA
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISD JESSICA POWERS
PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: ASEC PREL PGOV FJ NZ
SUBJECT: GNZ HOSTS FIJI'S QARASE AND BAINIMARAMA FOR TALKS

REF: WELLINGTON 931

Classified By: DCM David J. Keegan. Reasons: E.O. 12958, 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a meeting with Bainimarama on November
27, New Zealand's Foreign Minister won his agreement to a
meeting with Fiji's PM Qarase; PM Clark then called the PM
and persuaded him to come for the meeting. The meeting will
take place at New Zealand's Government House from 10:00 a.m.
tomorrow, with no definite end time or predetermined agenda,
although Bainimarama is scheduled to depart at 6:00 p.m. on a
Suva-bound commercial flight. GNZ remains realistic about
outcomes and continues its contingency planning should the
coup proceed. FM Peters will attend the PIF Minister meeting
in Sydney on December 1. End summary.

Kiwis Engineer a Meeting between Qarase and Bainimarama
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2. (C) Embassy officers attended a second Diplomatic Corps
briefing by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
officials regarding the evolving situation in Fiji (reftel)
including a supplemental US-only briefing with Heather
Riddell, Director, Pacific Division. While a Saturday,
November 25 meeting between New Zealand Foreign Minister
Winston and Commodore Bainimarama met with little result, in
a second meeting November 27, Bainimarama agreed to meet in
New Zealand with Fijian Prime Minister Qarase. New Zealand
Prime Minister Helen Clark then called PM Qarase that evening
to secure his agreement. Qarase will arrive at 8:00 p.m.
today, November 28, on a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)
plane. The meeting between Qarase and Bainimarama is
scheduled for tomorrow, November 29 at 10:00 a.m. at New
Zealand's Government House. MFAT commented that both had
accepted the Kiwi invitation "very quickly."


3. (C) The meeting will last as long as the participants
want. MFAT says that there is no preset agenda for the
meeting. Also, while FM Peters will attend the meeting, no
decision has been made about whether or not New Zealand PM
Clark will take part. She has said publicly that she is ready
to participate. Her involvement might include handshakes or
assistance in a tough negotiating moment. GNZ has indicated
that it would like to see a press conference follow the
meeting. (FYI: We understand that Australia's FM Downer and
FM Peters had a telcon this afternoon, but MFAT was not able
to offer a readout. End FYI.)


4. (C) MFAT has heard, but has been unable to confirm, that
Fiji Police Commissioner Hughes may attend the meeting. They
are unsure whether Bainimarama would agree to Hughes'
participation.

Anticipating outcomes
--------------


5. (SBU) GNZ is realistic about the possibility for success,
knowing that nothing may be resolved. GNZ remains hopeful
for a "best event" in which the two parties sign a written
declaration. Heather Riddell, Director of the Pacific
Division said, "This could be the shortest meeting ever, or
it may do some good. It's hard to know."


6. (C) Bainimarama is scheduled to leave for Suva tomorrow on
a 6:00 p.m. Air New Zealand flight. MFAT says that
Bainimarama is anxious to depart because an ill daughter has
been hospitalized in Fiji. Qarase's departure has not been
set, but MFAT told us after the briefing that we should not
read into that.


7. (U) GNZ sees this meeting, at a minimum, as setting the
stage Friday's PIF Ministers meeting in Sydney, which
Minister Peters will also attend.

Planning contingencies
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8. (U) GNZ continues its contingency planning, should the
meeting fail and the coup plans proceed. Among other
things, GNZ will break-off of military relations, and GNZ
will seek regional and international responses, including the
PIF meeting and the Commonwealth, and possibly the UN.


9. (C) MFAT is also looking into the evacuation of its 7,000
citizens in Fiji. They will rely on commercial flights as
long as they are operating, and will charter flights if the
commercial flights cease. Contradicting what they told us
earlier, MFAT clarified that, because of threats received to
certain High Commission staff over the weekend, non-essential
personnel and family members have been moved out of Suva.
The personnel may return as early as tomorrow; the families
possibly not. But no one has been evacuated from Fiji.
McCormick