[Suva, FIJI] In consultation with Fiji, members of the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group (MCG) on Fiji arrive in Suva today. The MCG will hold meetings with Government and a range of stakeholders on Tuesday 1 May 2012.
The MCG has been tasked by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to continue dialogue and engagement with Fiji and to report to the next Leaders’ meeting.
The members of the MCG are the Senator, the Hon Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia; the Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; the Hon Ano Pala, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade & Immigration of Papua New Guinea; the Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Minister of Justice of Samoa; the Hon Apisai Ielemia, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour of Tuvalu; and the Hon Alfred Carlot, Minister for Foreign Affairs & External Trade of Vanuatu.
The MCG last visited Fiji in 2008. Since then, the MCG has met five times to discuss developments in Fiji and avenues for Forum engagement. The last MCG meeting was held in Vanuatu in February 2011.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: A press conference will be held following MCG consultations scheduled for 1st May 2012, 6:15pm (Fiji Time) at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji. For media queries and to register journalists and camerapersons to attend the press conference, please contact the Forum Secretariat’s Communications Officer, Mue Bentley Fisher, via mueb@forumsec.org.fj or +679 9998677.
