§ 33. Mr. BorrowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions with the administration in Fiji. [129574]
§ Mr. BattleWe have kept in close touch with the Fijian authorities since the beginning of the current crisis. On 23 May my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke personally to the then President Mara to assure him of our support for a peaceful negotiated solution to the hostage situation. Our High Commission in Suva have been in constant touch with the Fijian authorities since then. In parallel we are keeping in close touch with the Commonwealth Secretariat and with key international partners over a coordinated response to the latest interim administration, announced on 18 July.