If the leader of Fiji’s military government felt he’d won a diplomatic victory at last month’s meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, he’s likely to be feeling decidedly deflated today.
At the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns last week, it was widely expected that Melanesian countries would create a diplomatic headache for host country Australia by pushing for Fiji’s suspension from the forum to be lifted.
But it didn’t eventuate. Instead, members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group say they have been mispresented by the media and they are merely advocating constructive dialogue with the military government.
Telinga Media filed this report from Cairns.
http://newmatilda.com/media/MelDiplomacyAugust09.mp3
(Running time approx. 7 minutes, 9.6 MB)