AMBASSADOR?S MEETING WITH PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SUVA 000171 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (SUBSTITUTING ? FOR ' THROUGHOUT) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL FJ KDEM EFIN PINR SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR?S MEETING WITH PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARY-GENERAL SLADE ON FIJI?S STATUS SUVA 00000171 001.2 OF 003 PLEASE PASS TO EAP ACTING A/S DAVIES ¶1. (U) Summary: On May 4, I met with Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) to discuss Fiji's May 1 automatic suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) for failing to schedule elections by the end of 2009. Slade said that the unanimous decision broke new ground for the Forum and that it would take some time to adjust to this new reality. While Fiji's officials would be excluded from all PIF-organized meetings, the PIF is looking at alternative ways to engage Fiji. Slade emphasized that Fiji's suspension from the PIF does not rule out its engagement with other countries and underscored that the PIF's actions do not pertain to Fiji's participation in the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Slade also stated that PIF engagement with Fijian civil society including the private sector and non-governmental organizations would continue unabated. Slade reaffirmed that the PIF Secretariat has no intention of leaving its Suva offices. He commented that such chatter amounted to political posturing by others and media speculation. Slade noted that the international community should not abandon Fiji if its economic situation deteriorates because of the possible effects on the region and we should help Fiji in the event of a natural disaster. End Summary THE PIF BREAKS NEW GROUND -------------- ¶2. (U) On May 4, I met with Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Tuiloma Neroni Slade to discuss the May 1 suspension of Fiji from the Pacific Islands Forum. Slade said that the unanimous decision to suspend Fiji by all Forum leaders at the PIF Special Leaders Retreat in Port Moresby on January 27 broke new ground for the Forum and was not taken lightly. It was important to take clear and effective action, and by making the suspension automatic on May 1, it put the burden on Fiji to take action. Following the January decision, the Forum notified Fiji, the UN, the Commonwealth and the EU of its decision in writing. Slade stressed that despite the failure of Fiji's de facto government respond to the January decision, PIF Chairman Niue Premier Toke Talagi tried to make a strong effort to resolve the issue and avoid suspension. PIF attempts to reactivate the Forum-Fiji Joint Working Group and its overtures for Suva consultations by Talagi were of no avail. When the April 10 abrogation of its Constitution revealed that Fiji would not hold elections in 2009, Talagi proposed to Forum leaders that the SUVA 00000171 002.2 OF 003 suspension take effect immediately. However, the consensus of the leaders was to let the May 1 deadline stand. ALTERNATIVE AVENUES FOR ENGAGEMENT REMAIN -------------- ¶3. (U) Slade said that the immediate impact of Fiji's suspension is that it would not be invited to join any PIF-organized meetings. Fiji would not be invited to the PIF's Cairns Leaders Meeting in August (when Australia assumes the chair),any future ministerial meetings or the standing committees of the Forum. However, he did say that there were other possible avenues in which dialogue on the margins might be possible, such as upcoming separate Pacific leaders meetings organized by Japan and France where Fiji might be invited. ¶4. (SBU) Slade said that the PIF Secretariat is still trying to work out how to deal with trade ministerials, since they tend to commingle these sessions with official participants and those from the private sector. He added that the suspension does not affect the PIF's work with civil society, NGO's or the private sector. Moreover, Fiji's participation in the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and its affiliated organizations would not be impacted by the suspension. QUESTIONS REGARDING PKOs -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Slade cautioned that Fiji's participation in peacekeeping operations (PKOs) is a particularly difficult area that the Forum is still working out. He noted that Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is something that will have to be handled with care. He said that it would be difficult to support ending Fiji's participation in UN PKOs while continuing to allow Fijian police to be part of RAMSI. The PIF needs more internal discussion to work out its stance on this issue. FIJI'S ECONOMY A DEEP CONCERN -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Fiji's economy is of deep concern to the PIF, Slade stressed. He suggested that it is not too early to look at how the international financial institutions might be able to respond to Fiji's deepening economic crisis. We agreed that any help from the international community must not give the impression it is a reward for SUVA 00000171 003.2 OF 003 de facto Prime Minister Bainimarama's regime but should Fiji's economy falter it would be seen as a measure to minimize the economic impact on the region. PIF'S DECISION UNANIMOUS AND IT PLANS TO REMAIN IN SUVA -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Slade made it clear that the decision to suspend Fiji from the PIF was a unanimous one and not just of the larger members. He said that the smaller countries understand all too well the effect the events in Fiji can have on the region. Moreover, the smaller countries? governments are vulnerable to internal actors seeking to capitalize on their minimum capacity to sustain rule of law. Slade dismissed the idea of the Secretariat moving out of Suva as empty rhetoric. He commented that such chatter amounted to political posturing by others and media speculation. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Slade underlined several times that Fiji as a country remains a member of the Forum, and he looks forward to Fiji's return to a constitutional government. In the meantime, the Forum will continue to look at all possible alternative avenues to help Fiji move forward. I agree with Slade's assessment that this is a time when we need to ensure Fiji's regional economy does not collapse. We should encourage involvement by the IMF, World Bank or other international financial institutions should the need arise. I added that natural disasters are an important external factor that could impact not only on Fiji's economy and stability, but the region as a whole, and that is why the United States will continue to provide assistance in that area. ¶9. (SBU) I also suggested to Slade that we need to demonstrate to Fiji's regime the opportunity costs it will incur by delaying a return to democracy. I explained that a year ago the United States excluded Fiji from the planning process for this summer's Pacific Partnership 2009, which will include visits to a number of countries in the South Pacific. This initiative, in conjunction with the suspension, should make it clear that we support the PIF's efforts. At the same time, we will continue to endorse the PIF's diplomatic initiatives to help Fiji find a way out of its conundrum. MCGANN