PNG backs Fiji polls through funding

PAPUA New Guinea has not sent political observers to the Fiji elections because it was not officially invited, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato said yesterday.

Mr Pato said in a Radio New Zealand International interview that to his knowledge the Government "received no formal invitation from Fiji on that matter".

"So that was probably the reason why we haven’t sent a member there. We are supporting the natural process. We are providing 20 million dollars US (K50 million) to support the election as you know. So we’re committed to the process of democratic elections in Fiji. It’s just that we have not had formal notice," Mr Pato told RNZI.

Additional Foreign Affairs Department officials had been deployed at the PNG diplomatic mission in Suva to observe the elections which started yesterday.

"Papua New Guinea has met its commitments to support the Fijian electoral process as agreed through ongoing discussion with Fiji," said a statement from the Prime Minister’s office yesterday.

"This was the subject of ongoing coordination over recent months with the evolution of the proposed observer program that involved several differed components for consultation.

"As part of this support, Papua New Guinea has deployed additional Foreign Affairs Department officials to our diplomatic mission in Fiji.

"Papua New Guinea made a commitment of K50 million to support the Fiji electoral process – half of which was agreed to be provided before the election, which has been delivered, and half following the election.

"The first K10 million was delivered three months ago and a further K15 million was delivered last week. The remainder of this commitment will be provided according to the agreed schedule.

"Papua New Guinea wishes Fiji every success in its transition back to democratic rule and we will work with Fiji to ensure this process is successful. It is timely that Fiji’s election is scheduled for the day after PNG’s 39th independence day celebrations.

"While PNG has faced its challenges, we are celebrating another anniversary of our democracy. We look to continuing to share our experience and provide ongoing support and friendship to our friends in Pacific Island countries on a range of issues that include governance and development issues," the statement said.

But the Fiji Prime Minister’s office yesterday told reporters in PNG that instruments for an observer mission from PNG have been sent to the PNG Government. They could not give further details.

PNG Today / Post Courier