PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from August 2005

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from August 2005

New Air Fiji aircraft worries Tuvalu.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) - The government of Tuvalu has expressed its concern on the purchase of a new Chinese built Xian MA60 (Modern Ark 60) aircraft by Air Fiji. Minister for Transport, Saufatu Sopoanga says they have raised...

PNG prepares for open trade by 2020.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) is preparing for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) "trade war", Trade and Industry Minister Paul Tiensten has told the country's Parliament. Mr Tiensten made the statement...

Downer pushes for countries to sign green pact.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says he would like other East Asian countries to sign up to a new greenhouse emissions pact which rivals the Kyoto Protocol. Australia joined the United...

Tonga's strikers reject 12.5-percent pay rise offer.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga's Public Servants Association (PSA) has rejected an offer by the government for a 12.5-percent salary rise across the board, as the strike enters its tenth day today. PSA spokesperson, Fotu...

New Caledonia to host 2011 SPG.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - New Caledonia will host the 2011 South Pacific Games following a vote by the Games Council in Palau. The French Territory won the right to stage the Pacific's biggest sports event after a three-way contest...

Media freedom under scrutiny in Kiribati.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 TARAWA (Pacnews) - A public debate is raging in Kiribati on media freedom after the national broadcaster, the Broadcasting and Publications Authority (BPA) reported criticisms of the Speaker by the Catholic Church. BPA...

France here to uphold rule of law : outgoing envoy.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - Outgoing France's High Commissioner in French Polynesia, Michel Mathieu, has stressed France's role in the Pacific country was mainly to "guarantee that the rule of law is upheld at all times." Speaking...

Bougainville by-election in October.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 BUKA (Pacnews) - A by-election for the Bougainville Provincial seat will be held next year, the Electoral Commission has announced. The seat became vacant when John Momis, who held it for 32 years, left to contest the...

Samoa's police deployment.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - The Samoan cabinet has approved the country's police contingents to join the United Nations missions to Liberia, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. According to a Samoan government release preparations for...

VC steps aside, probe begins.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The Vice-Chancellor of the University of PNG, Prof Les Eastcott, has "voluntarily stepped aside" to allow an independent investigation into the institution to begin this week. The fate of three other...

We have education disaster unfolding, Marshalls tell US.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - The Marshall Islands government's annual report to the US President says an "education disaster" is in progress in the Marshall Islands. The report is an annual requirement of the Compact of Free...

Air Fiji defends new plane.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Air Fiji Limited says it has over previous months conducted in-depth research into aircraft type for its fleet and is satisfied that the Chinese built MA60 will be the airlines flagship into the Pacific. The...

22 Open seats proposed for PNG parliament.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) has proposed that an additional 22 Open electorates be created in the country. This will increase the current Open electorates from 89 to 111. ...

Samoans seek compensation for dawn raids.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - A test case to the United Nations' Human Rights Committee could pave the way for million-dollar payments to Samoans deported during the 1970s dawn raid campaigns. Former New Zealand National MP Arthur Anae...

JAL pullout: End of an era.
August 1, 2005... 01 AUGUST 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Japan Airlines' (JAL) decision to suspend flights to Saipan marks the end of an era for tourism in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), a local industry leader said. Lynn Knight, president of...

Strike continues as civil servants reject another government.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - A second offer by the Tongan Cabinet to resolve the nationwide strike by civil servants has again been rejected outright by the Public Servants Association (PSA). Yesterday (01 Aug), cabinet offered 20...

US Interior Department says economies of some Pacific Islands can't be sustained.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The U.S. Interior Department deputy secretary says without government funds, American affiliated Pacific island economies can't be sustained. Mr David Cohen says a healthy economy should be based on a strong...

PM Somare lifts visa ban verdict.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has directed his Immigration department to lift the ban imposed on one of two Chinese nationals deported in October last year. The directive was...

CNMI electricity woes.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Power blackout is set to continue in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as one more engine broke down at the main power plant in the capital, Saipan. This brings to three the total number of...

Air Pacific still deciding on Solomon flights.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's international airline, Air Pacific will not recommence services to the Solomon Islands until the 16 August at the earliest, Radio Fiji News reports. Airline chief executive officer John Campbell says...

Wells seals Chinese defence aid for Vanuatu.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - China has agreed to finance various police projects in Vanuatu worth more than VT32 million (US$286,000). Returning from a recent visit to China, Vanuatu minister of police George Wells confirmed the...

Revealed: Airports not safe!
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - All 22 airports in Papua new Guinea (PNG) managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the country are not safe under International Air Safety requirements. The Public Accounts Committee was told...

Parliament adjourns earlier than planned.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The current sitting of Solomon Islands parliament was adjourned sine die earlier than planned today after parliament failed to secure a quorum to enable the House to resume. A government statement said...

Guam governor misses UN self-determination meeting.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 HAGATNA (Pacnews) - Reports from Guam suggest the governor missed a United Nations meeting on decolonisation in favour of a trip to Philadelphia. The UN lists Guam as a non-self governing territory because its people haven't...

Australia says ASEAN nations keen on new climate pact.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) - Southeast Asian countries have expressed interest in joining a new United States-led partnership to cut greenhouse gas emissions by developing technology and economic incentives, Australian Foreign Minister...

RAMSI praises Cook Islands contribution.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - As Cook Islands celebrates its Constitution Day today, the contribution of its officers serving under the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has been praised. Special Coordinator...

More Air Pacific pilots resign.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's national carrier, Air Pacific has denied claims that more pilots have resigned. However, airline chief executive officer, John Campbell say if more pilots resign to join Middle Eastern airlines, they...

Air Pacific an option for Kiribati - Tuvalu minister says.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) - Kiribati is looking at the option of using Fiji's international airline, Air Pacific to fly to Tarawa and Funafuti in Tuvalu. At the same time, Air Fiji is currently trying to secure the route through...

Eastcott leaves PNG; probe on row to start.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The vice-chancellor of the University of PNG, Prof Les Eastcott, is out of the country. He is believed to have flown out on Friday (29 July) after it was announced that he would "step aside" to allow...

Latest opinion polls in Australia put opposition ahead of government.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - The latest opinion polls have Australia's opposition Labor Party ahead of the governing coalition, on a two-party preferred basis, for the first time in several months. However, the Newspoll has Labor...

Transparency International in Vanuatu wants all honorary consuls to be listed.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - The Vanuatu branch of Transparency International is to urge the government to make sure all the country's honorary consuls are properly appointed. Vanuatu's Daily Post newspaper has highlighted an...

JAL says it may resume Saipan service in 2007.
August 2, 2005... 02 AUGUST 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Even though it is suspending operations in the Northern Marianas in October, Japan Airlines (JAL) says it is not closing its doors yet, Marianas Variety reports. JAL's regional manager Shinichi Yoshida said...

Air Pacific and Kiribati to sign agreement on service to Christmas Island.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 TARAWA (Pacnews) - Fiji's national carrier, Air Pacific is expected to service the new route between Nadi and Christmas Island. Kiribati's permanent secretary for transport, Tebwee Ietaake told Radio Kiribati the proposed...

Students support teachers and urge leaders to quickly resolve strike.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - A different colour was added to the civil servants strike in the capital, Nuku'alofa yesterday when students from Tonga High School joined their teachers to support their industrial action, Matangi Tonga...

French Polynesia's Opposition criticises President Temaru.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's opposition has criticised President Oscar Temaru for attending Vanuatu's 25th independence day celebrations, alleging that this was in line with his ambition to become the first president...

Solomon Islands establishes diplomatic relations with Brazil.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands has established diplomatic relations with Brazil. Brazil is the first South American country to formalise relations with Solomon Islands since the country's attainment of independence in...

Saipan, Tinian people with lung problems, serious illnesses advised to stay indoors due to volcano gases.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island's department of public health, through the Emergency Management Office, (EMO) is advising people with lung problems or other serious illnesses to stay indoors due...

Authority has no plans to collect K19m from debts.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has over K19 million (US$6.2 million) from debtors but does not have any mechanisms in place to recover these outstanding monies. The parliamentary...

Lange loses lower right leg.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - David Lange's right leg has been amputated below the knee as he battles a rare and incurable plasma disorder. Family spokeswoman, Lauren Young said the former Labour Prime Minister's condition was listed...

Diplomat: Look beyond Australia.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - After 30 years, Papua New Guinea (PNG) should broaden its bilateral relations to other Commonwealth and European Union nations and not just Australia, British High Commissioner to PNG David Gordon McCleod...

PNG PM to visit Fiji.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's minister for foreign affairs and external trade, Kaliopate Tavola has briefed the country's cabinet on the official visit of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Sir Michael Somare from the 26-31...

Continental lays off Saipan workers.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Continental Micronesia yesterday announced it was laying off of some of its workers in Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) effective 04 October. "Due to the potential loss or non-renewal of...

SamoaTel builds communications tower on ancient religious site.
August 3, 2005... 03 JULY 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - A Samoan high chief on Manono Island has criticised the construction of a communications tower on a star mound in Manono Radio New Zealand International reports the chief, former Member of Parliament Leiataua...

Tongan soldiers remain in hospital in Australia.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Two Tongan soldiers remain in hospital in Australia, after a weekend road accident in the far north of Western Australia, Radio Australia reports. The two men from the Tongan Defence Service were among...

Standard Palauan spelling proposed.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 KOROR (Pacnews) - A set of rules on how the Palauan language should be written was proposed in the Palau Senate recently, Palau Horizon reports. Senator Santy Asanuma, in Senate Bill 7-79, said that it is important to set...

Influenza preparedness plan developed for Fiji.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - An influenza pandemic preparedness plan for Fiji is being developed to deal with the possible outbreak of Bird Flu in the region, Fiji Times reports. While the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has...

Pacific economies 'upside down' - U.S official.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - Economies in American-affiliated Pacific islands are "upside down" and cannot be sustained without massive U.S. government funding, Interior Department Deputy Assistant Secretary David Cohen told Majuro's...

New king installed in Wallis.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 MATA'UTU (Pacnews) - Aloesio Fulutui, a staunch supporter of the embattled king of Wallis, the Lavelua, has been made "Tui Mata'Utu," chief of the main village on Wallis Island. He was installed in a ceremony at the weekend,...

Solomon Islands international airport upgraded.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Work has begun on the US$9 million upgrade of Solomon Islands international airport. Resident engineer of the Pacific Consultants International, Yutaka Yamasaki said the work would take nine months and...

PSA rejects new offer, and urges doctors and nurses to join the strike.
August 3, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga's Public Servants Association (PSA) says it will call on doctors and nurses and airport workers to join the national strike if their demands are not met. The PSA on Monday (01 August) rejected the...

Nauru close to being removed from the FATF black-list.
August 4, 2005... 04 August 2005 YAREN (Pacnews) - Nauru says it's close to being removed from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) black-list of Non Cooperative Countries and Territories (NCCTs). The chairman of Nauru's National Coordinating Committee...

Nurses on nationwide strike.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Nurses in Fiji walked off their jobs this morning. The lightning strike by the nurses is in response to what they claim to be anomalies in their salaries and the proposed lay-off of 150 re-employed nurses...

Former PM charged.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) and Participating Police Force (PPF) Joint Corruption Task Force yesterday arrested and charged former Prime Minister and Provincial leader, Ezekiel Alebua. He was...

Student stabs two teachers to death.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Two male teachers are dead after being stabbed by a student who ran amok with a dagger at a school in Lae, Papua New Guinea yesterday afternoon. Another teacher, a female, is in a serious but stable...

Asiana loses US$6 million a year on Saipan.
August 4, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Owing to low number of passengers, Asiana Airlines has been suffering net losses of up US$6 million annually in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) making its Saipan-Seoul flights 59th in...

Nauru removed from the U.S Coast Guard watch-list.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Nauru's port of entry has been removed from the United States Coast Guard watch list, a list of countries not allowed to enter and berth at U.S. port facilities. Announcing Nauru's compliance with the...

Tonga's strikers plan mass march to the King.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Striking civil servants in Tonga plan to take their demands to the King on Monday (08 Aug) after rejecting two offers from the government. Prince Tui'pelehake, one of the vocal sympathisers of the...

Nurses' lightning strike declared illegal.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Minister for Labour, Kenneth Zinck has declared the nationwide lightning strike by nurses as illegal. More than 1300 nurses around the country walked off their jobs for four hours this morning. ...

Jail union faces bullying claim by Samoan staff.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - Newly recruited Samoan prison officers have been bullied and intimidated by union members in New Zealand who use them as pawns in pay negotiations, the Department of Corrections says. Department chief...

Methodist Church raises US$150,000 for Samoa's dialysis unit.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - The Methodist Church in Samoa has presented US$150,000to the new dialysis centre at the Tupua Tamasese National Hospital. The money was raised from donations of church members in Samoa, American Samoa,...

ADB president opens Sydney office.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 SYDNEY (Pacnews) - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda and Australian Treasurer Peter Costello have officially opened ADB's Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office (PLCO) in Sydney. "The Pacific Liaison...

PNG army lacks effective surveillance: Minister.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) needs a surveillance system that can provide its security and line agencies the management capabilities to oversee the protection of its sovereignty and preservation of natural...

PINA review underway.
August 4, 2005... 04 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - A Fiji-based business consulting firm has been engaged by AusAID to finalise a new corporate plan for the new unified Pacific Islands News Association (PINA). Maxiumise Consulting Pty Limited will review the...

Preparations begin in Fiji for the 2006 general elections.
August 4, 2005... 03 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Formal preparations for the 2006 national elections in Fiji have commenced with a nation wide house to house voter registration scheduled for September this year. Supervisor of Elections, Epeli Rabuka said...

HIV/AIDS is up 10-fold'.
August 5, 2005... 05 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - About 220 new HIV/AIDS cases are being reported in Papua New Guinea (PNG) every month - a 10-fold increase from last year, The National reports. "(The spread) has increased so rapidly that it has...

Pacific Leaders warned of Australia's perceived role in the Pacific.
August 5, 2005... 05 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - An academic has warned of a possible 'hijack' by Australia of the vision of Pacific Leaders espoused in the proposed Pacific Plan. A working paper posted on the Australian Policy Online website by Greg Fry...

Tonga PSA rejects government offer again.
August 5, 2005... 05 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga's Public Servants Association (PSA) has rejected for the third time an offer from cabinet of a 10, 20 and 30-percent pay rise for civil servants. Deputy secretary of the PSA Interim Committee,...

PSC admits fault over nurses' strike.
August 5, 2005... 05 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Public Service Commission (PSC) has admitted that it is to blame for the current crisis involving a nationwide strike by 1300 nurses. PSC chairman, Stuart Huggett told Fijilive the commission was now...

New Caledonia wins South Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
August 5, 2005... 05 AUGUST 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - - New Caledonia has won the 2005 VII Mini South Pacific Games held in Palau New Caledonia bagged a total of 112 medals, which included 56 gold. At the end of the ten-day sports event, the second...

Tonga's civil servants broaden their demands.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Striking civil servants in Tonga are expected to march to the palace this morning to present their petition stating their grievances directly to the King, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV as the nationwide strike enters...

Ample warning was given to government: Fiji Nurses Association.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Fiji Nurses Association (FNA) has warned government that threats of arrest of its members will worsen matters and the nurses national strike enters its fifth day, crippling health services in Fiji. FNA...

Temaru govt plans to build museum in Cook Islands.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia has announced plans to build a museum on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands to honour a Tahitian fisherman whose boat washed ashore there after drifting at sea for 118 days in 2002. The museum...

Taiwan eyes new Majuro dry-dock site.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - Four weeks after the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Authority rejected a Taiwanese company's plan to put an US$18 million dry-dock into the main urban area in its capital city, the company is...

PM to open Fijis High Commission in India.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's prime minister, Laisenia Qarase has agreed to officially open Fiji's High Commission office in India this month. Foreign Minister, Kaliopate Tavola confirmed this to Radio Fiji News. "Fiji is...

Chilean government moves to limit migration to Easter Island.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - The Chilean government is considering limiting migration to the world-famous archaeological site of Easter Island. Radio New Zealand International reports the move is a bid to stop the indigenous...

Huge crowd present petition to King.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - The daughter of the Tongan king, Princess Pilolevu, has accepted a petition from a crowd of 10,000 people who turned out in the capital, Nuku'alofa, in support of striking public servants. Radio...

We need strong economy, says Kabui.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 BUKA (Pacnews) - Bougainville needs to build a strong economy if it wanted to be fully autonomous or to even consider becoming independent after 15 years of self rule, Bougainville President Joseph Kabui told the provincial...

NMC may scrap technical trade programmes.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - The Northern Marianas College (NMC) is to eliminate technical trade programmes due to low enrolment which is attributed to students' lack of interest in minimum wage jobs. The local rate has been US$3.05...

Australia concerned with Solomon Muslims - report.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Australia is reportedly concerned about the presence of Muslims in the Solomon Islands. According to the Solomon Star newspaper Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer recently asked local police...

Uni probe begins.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The investigation into the University of Papua New Guinea began today and will, among other things, look into the grading system, allegations against the vice-chancellor, alleged student thuggery and...

NZ parliamentary select committee rejects calls for NZ to intervene in Tonga to bring about democratic changes.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - A parliamentary select committee has rejected calls for New Zealand to take strong action to bring about democratic change in Tonga, TVNZ reports. The Foreign Affairs committee has issued its report on an...

Pacific political and economic community still a long way off - Australian report.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - An Australian proposal for a Pacific political and economic community (PPEC) is a possibility, but not in the immediate future for the Pacific. This is despite a strong push for regional integration and...

French Polynesia leader suggests free association with France.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru has suggested a free association status with France, similar to an arrangement that Cook Islands has with New Zealand, Tahiti Presse reports. President Temaru...

Fiji can play leadership role in PICTA and PACER - Tavola.
August 8, 2005... 08 AUGUST 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji can play an effective role in the Pacific, because of its geographical location, the country's foreign affairs and external trade minister, Kaliopate Tavola said. "We can be convincing in the eyes of our...