Fiji Islands suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law after the military takeover of Fiji's democratically elected government.
In a statement issued after an extraordinary meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) in London, UK, on 8 December 2006, the group “unanimously and unequivocally condemned the military takeover of Fiji’s democratically-elected government”.
The group requested Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon to “deploy his good offices as appropriate and in consultation with the Chairperson of CMAG (Malta’s Foreign Minister Dr Michael Frendo), including the possibility of a mission to Fiji Islands to press for the immediate restoration of democracy.”
CMAG expressed its solidarity with the people of Fiji and concern for their economic welfare and well-being. It also commended the efforts of Pacific regional governments to promote dialogue and the resolution of political differences prior to the coup.
