Regional Disaster Meeting Delayed One Day By Australia, NZ Protest
(Fiji Times)
The interim government called off a regional meeting in Nadi yesterday after its Pacific counterparts protested against interim Defense Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau chairing a session.
Australia and New Zealand opposed Ratu Epeli as chairman in one of the discussions at the Pacific Regional Disaster Risk Management Meeting at the Westin Resort on Denarau.
Ratu Epeli said when he was informed of the protest, he opted out of the meeting. "I have no hard feelings to their objection but we are the host,” he said. “But I think word got back to Government in Suva and the meeting was called off."
Dr Langi Kavaliku had sat in to chair the meeting before Fiji called it off.
Delegates from Australia and New Zealand checked out of the resort after their protest.
Last night, Ratu Epeli assured the meeting would reconvene today after talks with the organizer, the Pacific Islands Applied Geo-Science Commission.
"Whether they (Australia and New Zealand)are there tomorrow (today), the meeting will go on," he said. "We are the hosts and this meeting is technical, not political. Pacific island delegates were disgusted but I did not want to create a scene."
The launch of the Pacific Disaster Net, that was scheduled for last night, will now be held tonight.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=95994
