Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua is leaving Honiara this weekend for Fiji to attend the highly criticized 'Engaging Fiji' meeting of Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
Secretary to the Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele confirmed to SIBC News last night that the Prime Minister received an official invitation from the Fiji Interim leader yesterday morning and has responded positively.Mr Manele also clarified that it is not the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) Summit meeting that Fiji was scheduled to host and chair but a meeting called for friends of Fiji in the region.
"This is an Engaging Fiji meeting arranged by the government of Fiji following the deferral of the MSG Summit. This is basically a meeting of interested countries and friends of Fiji. And it will take place on the same date that the MSG meeting was supposed to happen, 22nd and 23rd of July," said Mr Manele.
The Prime Minister's Secretary adds that the government's position is to maintain an "open door policy to Fiji and the government is looking forward to hearing what progress Fiji has made in its national economic and political roadmap."
"We also look forward to seeing if there is any progress towards the general election they said that they will hold in 2014."
Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua and his delegation will leave for Fiji this Sunday.