Pacific countries should support Fiji and not ostracise it as the country finds a pathway to democracy, Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele says.
Speaking at a joint media conference with Prime Minister John Key in Wellington today, Dr Sevele said he had had talks with Fijian military leader Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama and encouraged him to engage with his people and work towards democracy.
" It's a difficult situation in Fiji. There's no easy solution, there's no quick solution ...
"[The Pacific Islands Forum] certainly would like to engage with Fiji to find a way forward. To ostracise Fiji would not be in the interest, not only of Fiji but of the forum as a whole."
Fiji was suspended from the forum earlier this month because it ignored a forum deadline to set a date for elections this year.
Cdre Bainimarama said last month elections would not be held before 2014.
Dr Sevele said it was the forum's view that Pacific nations should stand back and give Fiji time to "sort out exactly where they want to go".
When asked if waiting until 2014 was a reasonable amount of time, Dr Sevele said "I don't know".
"At the end of the day, it is a decision to be taken and to be carried forward by the government and the people of Fiji. Our role is to assist Fiji [to] move forward."
When it was put to him that he sounded sympathetic to Cdre Bainimarama, Dr Sevele said: "I am sympathetic to anyone who needs assistance. Fiji needs help now."
Mr Key said a five-year wait was unacceptable to New Zealand, but, like other Pacific countries, was willing to help Fiji.
"NZ [has] always been willing to engage with Fiji if they're willing to engage and demonstrate that there's a pathway to democracy. This hasn't been about trying to punish Fiji but we want to see a democracy restored."
He said yesterday's European Commission announcement it had cancelled a grant to Fiji worth more than $NZ40 million after Cdre Bainimarama's refusal to set an election date could spur Fiji's leader to set an election date.
The EU's executive arm released a statement saying "in the absence of any indications that a legitimate government will be in place in 2009", its 2009 grant to help Fiji's struggling sugar sector had been cancelled.
Dr Sevele said the pressure on farmers and industry following the grant cancellation would be considerable.
NZPA