THE New Zealand Government is reiterating New Zealand's potential for Fiji to return to the Pacific Islands Forum.
Prime Minister John Key said the return of Fiji to the forum was likely to be a topic of conversation on his tour of Samoa, Tonga and Niue along with a delegation including opposition MPs and newly appointed Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development, Shane Jones.
"Providing Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama holds democratic and fair elections ... then the view of New Zealand is it would support a return of Fiji back into the forum," he told Radio New Zealand.
The Prime Minster said he was visiting the islands now, instead of attending this year's Pacific Islands Forum as it was too close to September's general election.
Mr Key said other matters set to be discussed were recent severe weather events in Tonga and regional fisheries issues.
Fiji was indefinitely suspended from the forum on May 2, 2009.
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